The Tigers are already seeing real payoff from Scott Harris’ first draft at the top of the baseball operations chain.
That 2023 MLB Draft has turned into a productive one for Detroit, and the latest sign came Sunday, Aug. 23, when left-hander Andrew Sears got the call and made his major-league debut in the series finale against the Royals in Kansas City, Mo.
Sears became the fifth player drafted by the Tigers in 2023 to reach the majors. That puts Detroit in a tie for the most debuts from that draft, alongside the Colorado Rockies, New York Mets and Seattle Mariners.
The headliner, though, is still first-rounder Kevin McGonigle. He’s the biggest reason the Tigers have gotten so much early value out of that class, and he remains the heavy favorite to win American League Rookie of the Year in 2026.
McGonigle’s production already stands out nationally, too. His 5.7 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference, is third among all players from the 2023 draft, trailing only Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes at 15.8 and Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford at 11.9. Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick, debuted in 2024, while Langford went No. 4 - just behind Max Clark, whom the Tigers took at No. 3 - and also reached the majors in 2024.
Detroit’s 2023 group has now produced five big-league debuts:
Max Clark, No. 3 overall: Harris chose the high-school outfielder over Langford, the college bat with a quicker path to the majors. Clark was finally called up earlier this month and made an immediate impression, even if he’s been in a rougher stretch lately, which is to be expected. His center-field defense and his feel for working counts have stood out.
Kevin McGonigle, No. 37 overall: A compensatory first-round pick out of high school, he passed Clark on the depth chart in 2025, made the Tigers out of camp this year and signed a long-term extension. Even with a recent lull, he’s still looked extremely polished.
Andrew Sears, No. 290 overall: The 10th-round pick from Connecticut earned his debut in Kansas City on Aug. 23 after a strong run at Triple-A Toledo.
Jim Jarvis, No. 320 overall: The 11th-round shortstop from Alabama reached the majors with the Atlanta Braves after being traded for pitcher Rafael Montero in 2025.
Brett Callahan, No. 380 overall: A 13th-round outfielder from St. Joseph’s University, he was one of four Tigers draftees from 2023 to debut with Detroit this year. He can hit, though he still seems to be searching for a helmet that fits.
Only six teams have yet to get a major-league debut from a player in the 2023 MLB Draft.
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Tigers Are Giving A Promising Lefty A Real Chance To Stick
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Now the Tigers are planning to use Sears as a bulk reliever in an upcoming bullpen game, which gives him a chance to show he can handle more than just a cameo. For a club that values pitchers who can miss bats and throw strikes, the recent gains in his command and strikeout rate make this a meaningful test, even if the assignment itself is only temporary for now. [Read more 🡒]