The Detroit Tigers’ 2025 draft class is shaping up to be a slow burn - and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. With top picks like prep shortstop Jordan Yost and prep catcher Michael Oliveto still years away from pushing into the upper minors, the Tigers are clearly playing the long game. But while those high-upside high schoolers develop, there’s one name from the later rounds who might be ready to move a little faster: outfielder Nick Dumesnil.
Dumesnil, the Tigers’ eighth-round pick out of California Baptist University, got a quick taste of pro ball last summer with a short stint at Single-A Lakeland. It wasn’t a long look - just 16 games - but it was enough to turn some heads. He showed flashes of what made him a standout in college, and now he’s a name worth keeping tabs on as the 2026 season gets rolling.
Physically, Dumesnil checks a lot of boxes. At 6’2” and 210 pounds, he’s got a sturdy, athletic frame that fits the mold of a pro outfielder.
Drafted at 21, he was on the younger side for a college junior and won’t turn 22 until March. The Tigers signed him for $214,500, a modest bonus that suggests he was part of a draft strategy designed to save money for bigger-ticket picks like Yost and Oliveto.
But don’t mistake that for a lack of talent - Dumesnil brings plenty to the table.
His college résumé speaks for itself. As a sophomore, he launched 19 home runs in 61 games, then followed that up with a strong showing in the Cape Cod League - a key proving ground for college hitters using wood bats.
That summer helped push his draft stock into early-round territory. But a slightly cooler junior season - particularly when it came to handling breaking balls - caused some evaluators to pump the brakes.
He still hit 10 home runs, swiped 27 bags, and showed solid plate discipline, but the dip in power and a slight uptick in strikeouts nudged him down some draft boards. That said, Baseball America still had him ranked 52nd in one of their final mocks leading into the July draft.
Once in Lakeland, Dumesnil didn’t light up the stat sheet, but the underlying data was encouraging. He walked more than he struck out - always a good sign for a young hitter - and posted a swinging strike rate of just 8.7%, which is excellent.
His average exit velocity clocked in at 89.5 mph - a strong number by MLB standards, especially for a player just getting his feet wet in pro ball. Again, it’s a small sample size, but the early indicators are promising.
Defensively, Dumesnil has the tools to stick in center field for now, though he may eventually shift into a corner role. He’s not a burner, but he’s got above-average speed and a solid arm - not quite right-field cannon material, but good enough to handle all three outfield spots. That kind of versatility is always valuable, especially in a system where the long-term outfield picture is still taking shape.
Offensively, there are some things to iron out. Dumesnil has a tendency to get out in front of pitches, which leads to a lot of ground balls and not enough hard contact in the air.
That’s something the Tigers’ development staff will likely focus on this year. If he can learn to stay back and drive the ball more consistently, there’s a real chance for average power to emerge.
Combine that with his speed, his history of hard contact, and his solid approach at the plate, and you’ve got a player with a lot of intriguing tools - especially for an eighth-round pick.
The big question heading into 2026 is how he handles better breaking balls and offspeed pitches over a full season. That’s the next hurdle.
If he can adjust and continue to make hard contact, there’s a path for him to reach High-A West Michigan by midseason. That would be a significant step forward, and a sign that the Tigers may have found a sleeper in the middle rounds.
Dumesnil isn’t going to leapfrog the system overnight, but he’s got the kind of skill set that could quietly develop into something meaningful. In a draft class built around long-term upside, he might just be the early riser who makes some noise before the big names arrive.