The Detroit Tigers’ draft class has already started to reshape how the organization’s farm system looks on paper.
After adding 20 potential prospects in the MLB Draft earlier this month, the Tigers now have a fresh batch of names for evaluators to sort through alongside the talent already moving through the system. Baseball America did exactly that on Monday, updating its top 30 lists for every MLB club and slotting the Tigers’ newest picks into the mix.
At the top of the group is righthanded pitcher Cameron Flukey, the Coastal Carolina product Detroit selected with the No. 22 overall pick. Flukey landed at No. 4 on Baseball America’s Tigers list, trailing only outfielder Max Clark at No. 1, shortstop Bryce Rainer at No. 2 and catcher/first baseman Josue Briceño at No. 3.
"Flukey has midrotation starter upside with above-average control if he can stay healthy," Baseball America writes in its future assessment of Flukey, "but his medical history could create some volatility in a profile that is otherwise viewed as fairly safe."
Another draft pick moved quickly into the upper tier of the rankings. Evan Dempsey, the former Florida Gulf Coast two-way standout taken by Detroit at No. 69 overall, checked in at No.
- He was drafted as a pitcher, which gives the Tigers three players in Baseball America’s top 10 after a system that had been heavy on position players.
Two more drafted players also made the Tigers’ top 30: Will Adams, a first baseman taken in the 11th round at No. 336 overall, came in at No. 12, while shortstop Tyson LeBlanc, the Tigers’ second-round pick at No. 61, landed at No. 14.
Baseball America’s refresh came after ESPN released its own updated top 10 last week.
The new names arrive at a time when Detroit’s farm system has already taken a hit in Baseball America’s midseason talent rankings, where the Tigers suffered the largest drop and landed at No. 22.
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