Detroit Tigers 2023 MLB Draft Preview: Outfielders

The Detroit Tigers have the 3rd overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft

The 2023 MLB Draft is just under six weeks away, so it’s time for Detroit Tigers fans to get to know some players. The Tigers have the second largest bonus pool in the draft because they own picks 3, 37, and 45 this year. Detroit will almost certainly come away with a new top prospect, and possibly two more who rank in their top ten.

We’re beginning our draft preview series with the outfield because there’s a strong chance the Tigers take an outfielder with their first pick. On paper, this is the best outfield class in MLB Draft history. Medical reports and bonus-pool chicanery tend to create draft-day surprises, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see four outfielders go off the board in the first five picks. And it’s possible a sixth outfielder could sneak into the top ten.

We’ve never seen even three outfielders go in the first five picks of any draft. And just three times in draft history (1989, 1995, 2003) have four outfielders gone in the top ten. So let’s take a closer look at this epic outfield class.

Detroit Tigers Draft Options with Pick 3

Dylan Crews – Crews was ticketed as the potential 1-1 pick for 2023 the moment he stepped on campus at LSU. And in three years in Baton Rouge he’s done nothing but produce. He has hit 55 home runs so far in college, and he owns a career OPS of nearly 1.200, bolstered by a ridiculous .567 on-base percentage this year. He projects to be a plus hitter with at least plus power and enough athleticism to capably man center field in pro ball, though he’s more suited for right field. If there’s a wart in his game, it’s that he puts the ball on the ground a bit more than is ideal.

What a pretty operation from potential no. 1 overall pick Dylan Crews who gives LSU some much-needed insurance with this solo HR. Really strong forearms and easy bat speed. pic.twitter.com/7zGeJ3hVRd

— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) May 19, 2023

Wyatt Langford – Langford arguably has a higher ceiling than Crews, but there are a few more questions surrounding his game. He saw just four at-bats as a freshman, but exploded to tie a Florida record with 26 home runs as a sophomore. And he’s gotten even better as as junior, shaking off an unfortunate injury to hit .392/.519/.807 through 50 games. He owns plus-plus raw power, projects as an above-average hitter, and has even shown 70-grade run times. But for all his speed, Langford has mostly played left field and he rarely steals bases. It’s possible he’s being held back by his Florida coaches, but it could also mean he has below-average instincts.

https://twitter.com/GatorsBB/status/1655298920254144513?s=20

Walker Jenkins – Jenkins appears to have taken over as the top prep hitter in the class in most rankings. His simple swing is a joy to watch, with plus bat speed and the sort of loft to project future 60s on both his hit and power tool. He stands 6-foot-3 and offers more physical projection than the other top bats. Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo has compared Jenkins to Austin Meadows, but reports this spring have Jenkins looking faster and potentially athletic enough to stick in center field, which makes him sounds a bit more like Riley Greene.

Getting a look at OF Walker Jenkins (N.C.) tonight and he’s got a couple of hard hit balls after two ABs including this no-doubt HR to right-center. pic.twitter.com/PEyikwiGT8

— Carlos Collazo (@CarlosACollazo) March 15, 2023

Max Clark – Clark is the final member of the top-tier of this outfield class, and there’s a world where he goes first overall. He’s been a fixture on the showcase circuit, and he has four plus tools. He’s a very fast runner, a plus defender in center, and he has a huge left arm that would get him drafted as a pitcher. The only thing holding him back is his power projection. Clark hasn’t shown a ton of in-game pop so far, and his frame is already maxed out. Still, a center fielder with four plus tools and average power would be a very valuable player.

‘23 OF Max Clark (@maxxclarkk13) wastes no time getting the scoring started, hammering the 3rd pitch of the game way out to RF. Toolsed up plus athlete who will likely be a top 5 overall pick in July. #PGDraft @PG_Scouting @PerfectGameUSA
@B_Sakowski_PG @vcervinoPG pic.twitter.com/MGOQ4ka5PU

— Perfect Game Ohio Valley (@PG_OhioValley) April 25, 2023

Other First-Round Outfielders

Here are a couple players who almost certainly won’t be picked by the Tigers. But we felt they were still worth mentioning.

Enrique Bradfield – Bradfield is likely to be one of the more divisive players in this year’s draft class. He’s arguably the fastest player in the class, but he definitely gets more out of his speed than anyone else. Bradfield has stolen 129 bases for Vanderbilt, been caught just 14 times, and he’s a plus-plus defender in center field. There are some questions about his hitting ability, though, and no one expects him to hit for much power.

Chase Davis – Davis doesn’t appear terribly high on most mock drafts right now, but we think there’s an outside chance he could land in the top ten. He was a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school, ranking four spots ahead of Colt Keith on the MLB Pipeline’s 2020 draft list. But Davis didn’t play a ton as a freshman, and he showed some concerning swing-and-miss issues as a sophomore. He appears to have made significant strides with his plate discipline this year, and his numbers reflect that. He also boasts a higher in-zone contact rate than Crews, and a better barrel rate than Langford.

Detroit Tigers Draft Options with Picks 37 and 45

It’s hard to guess who may be available nearly 40 picks into the draft. College performers tend to rise in the draft, while sometimes prep bats slip due to signing demands. But we’re going to highlight a handful of players who may still be on the board.

Hurley is a well-rounded, lefty-hitting outfielder who has been very productive for the Hokies. He owns a career 1.015 OPS with Virginia Tech, but his profile is held back a bit by his aggressive approach at the plate. Ledbetter doesn’t quite have the tools of Hurley, but he’s a more patient hitter. He performed well in the SEC this year after spending his first two seasons at Samford. Bohrofen was a highly regarded prep hitter in 2020, but he struggled to produce at Oklahoma in 2021. He transferred to Arkansas and struggled again in 2022, but he broke out this season and looks like a potential power-hitting corner outfielder.

Dillon Head is one of the fastest players in the draft (6.22 60-yard dash) and projects as an above-average defender in center field. He doesn’t figure to hit for much power, but he has a quick bat and good contact skills. Farmelo can’t quite match Head’s speed, but he’s still a plus runner who projects to stick in center, and he has more power projection.

That’s it for now. But check back soon for our pitching and infield draft previews.