Will the Detroit Tigers take another outfielder with their first pick?
The MLB Draft is tomorrow and the Detroit Tigers have the 11th overall pick. They have many other picks after that, of course, and on day one of the draft they will also select 49th overall, and 72nd overall.
The Tigers have used their first pick on an outfielder eight times, from Murray Robinson in 1968, to Max Clark last year. It has been more than 40 years since they picked an outfielder first in back-to-back drafts (Kirk Gibson and Rick Leach), but there are a few outfielders who are legitimate options with pick 11 this year.
So, let’s take a look at the main contenders, and then a few picks who might be fits later in the draft. And, if you haven’t already, make sure you also check out our draft preview, our look at infielders, and our draft guide.
College Outfielders
James Tibbs: Florida State University
Age: 21 Height: 6’0. Bats: Left/Throws: RightÂ
Charlie Condon and Braden Montgomery are the top two college outfielders in this year’s draft. But James Tibbs is generally considered number three, and he should be available when the Detroit Tigers pick. Tibbs had a terrific three-year run with the Seminoles, with a 1.147 OPS and 55 career home runs over 176 games, and he was named the ACC Player of the Year in 2024. He was also excellent in the 2023 Cape Cod League, batting .303/.390/.472 with 6 home runs in 40 games.
Tibbs boasts a strong mix of contact ability, in-game power, and patience, and he projects to be an above-average offensive player at the highest level. However, he’s a below-average runner and defender, and he’s likely limited to left field or first base. There are also some questions about his ability to hit breaking balls and changeups. And he may struggle a bit against left-handed pitching.
Reckless Comp: Jesse WinkerÂ
Ryan Waldschmidt: University of Kentucky
Age: 21 Height: 6’2. Bats: Right/Throws: RightÂ
Ryan Waldschmidt has been one of the big risers in this year’s draft thanks to impressive tools and strong data. He began his college career at Charleston Southern before transferring to Kentucky for his sophomore year. He hurt his knee early in the Cape Cod League, so he didn’t get a chance to improve his draft stock there. But it happened quickly this year, when he batted .333/.469/.610 for the Wildcats, with 14 home runs and 25 steals. His underlying data is strong, with roughly the same amount of contact as Tibbs, but lower chase rates and higher exit velocity.
Waldschmidt could end up with above-average hit, power, and speed tools at the MLB level. There are some concerns about his swing being too uphill, leading to trouble with elevated veloctiy. He doesn’t have a strong arm, and scouts think his outfield instincts are rough, though he theoretically has enough speed to give center field a try in pro ball.
Reckless Comp: Spencer SteerÂ
#14. Ryan Waldschmidt (LF, @UKBaseball). Catalyst atop UK’s aggressive lineup. Wildcat offense and Waldschmidt’s draft stock took off once fully recovered from ACL surgery, improving from mid-day 2 pick into a first rounder. Scouts I’ve spoken with have said LF is where he… pic.twitter.com/91bUdcTZJU
— Burke Granger (@burkegranger) July 11, 2024
Vance Honeycutt: University of North Carolina
Age: 21 Height: 6’3. Bats: Right/Throws: RightÂ
Vance Honeycutt wasn’t a big name as a prep player. But he’s one of the most famous names in this year’s draft, in part because of his huge freshman campaign. Honeycutt hit 25 home runs and stole 29 bases in his first season in Chapel Hill. He he also struck out 90 times in just over 300 plate appearances. His production dipped across the board in 2023, seemingly because of his attempts to make more contact (it’s didn’t work). But he returned to form this year, batting .318 with 28 homers and 28 steals.
Honeycutt has monster secondary tools, with at least plus power, speed, and arm strength, and Gold Glove potential in center field. There are massive concerns about his hitting ability, however. He struck out at a 25% clip in his college career, with worrying levels of chase and swing-and-miss. He does walk at a decent rate (14% career). But few players who strike out this much in college find success in pro ball.
Reckless Comp: Brenton Doyle (2023 version)
Carson Benge: Oklahoma State University
Age: 21 Height: 6’1. Bats: Left/Throws: RightÂ
Carson Benge was a talented two-way player in college, though he missed all of his freshman year after having Tommy John surgery. He has worked as a starting pitcher and a reliever the past two years, and he owns a solid four-pitch mix, but he has more upside in the outfield. He batted .339 with 25 home runs and 18 steals in 120 career games with the Sooners, and he performed well in a short stint in the Cape Cod League.
Outside of his arm strength, Benge may not possess a true plus tool. But he’s probably at least average across the board, and some scouts hope he could improve rapidly once he focuses solely on hitting. His raw power compares to LSU’s Tommy White, only Benge makes much more contact and chases far less. There are a lot of moving parts in his swing, including a leg kick and a deep load, which could potentially be an issue once he faces more advanced pitching.
Reckless Comp: Lars Nootbaar
#15. Carson Benge (OF/RHP, @OSUBaseball). Draft eligible sophomore after a medical redshirt in ’22. Legitimate 2-way prospect who’s pro future is likely as a position player. Appealing combination of power & bat-to-ball skills. All fields approach; made swing adjustments… pic.twitter.com/KrH9BbO5Xw
— Burke Granger (@burkegranger) July 11, 2024
Detroit Tigers Outfield Options – Later Rounds
Dakota Jordan – Mississippi State – Age: 21 Height: 6′ – Bats: Right/Throws: RightÂ
Jordan is a tremendous athlete with elite bat speed and huge tools. He also comes with serious questions about his hit tool and baseball instincts.
Jared Thomas – Texas – Age: 21 Height: 6’2 – Bats: Left/Throws: RightÂ
Thomas is a draft-eligible sophomore with intriguing tools. He makes good contact, though he chases a little too much and his power is just average. He’s a strong defender at first base, but he also handled center field at Texas, and he has plenty of arm for right.
Mike Sirota – Northeastern – Age: 21 Height: 6’3 – Bats: Right/Throws: Right
Sirota headed into the year as a probable first rounder. But he didn’t perform well, and scouts thought he looked less explosive this year. Still, he has a strong underclass track record, and his tools are good enough to warrant a 2nd round selection.
Dylan Dreiling – Tennessee – Age: 21 Height: 5’11 – Bats: Left/Throws: Left
Dreiling had a strong sophomore season, but it perhaps went a little underappreciated amid the Volunteers’ flotilla of draft talent — at least until he won Most Outstanding Player at the College World Series. He shows potential for above-average hit and power tools, but he’s likely confined to left field in pro ball.
Kavares Tears – Tennessee – Age: 21 Height: 6′ – Bats: Left/Throws: Left
Tears played sparingly for Tennessee in 2023, but he broke out this year, batting .324 with 20 home runs. He has more bat speed and better overall tools than his teammate Dreiling. That should allow him to play right field or even center. But there are some concerns about his pure hit tool.
Detroit Tigers High School Outfield Options
Slade Caldwell: Valley View High School (Arkansas)
Age: 18 Height: 5’9. Bats: Left/Throws: Left
Konnor Griffin could potentially fall to the Tigers, but Rogelio already discussed him. Caldwell is really the only other realistic prep outfielder for the Tigers at pick 11, and in that case he would probably sign for significantly less than the $5.71-million slot value. The only things preventing Caldwell from being a surefire top-half pick are his size and lack of projectible power. There’s a ton like about Caldwell, though, and he seems very similar to Detroit’s own Kevin McGonigle, who is now one of the best prospects in baseball.
Both Caldwell and McGonigle have short, quick swings with excellent eyes at the plate, and they’re both above-average to plus runners with 6.5 60-yard-dash times. McGonigle hit .436 in his Perfect Game career, with a top exit velocity of 96 MPH. Caldwell? A .425 hitter in Perfect Game events, with a top exit velo of 95 MPH. The only real difference is Caldwell throws left-handed, which relegates him to the outfield. He should be able to stick in center, but he could also be an above-average left fielder
Reckless Comp: Sal Frelick
Look at this bat speed + sprint speed, incredible ⚡️@slade_caldwell pic.twitter.com/WH5Ke0fCtY
— Trey Hannam (@TJHannam10) May 21, 2023
Prep Outfield Options – Later Rounds
Griffin Burkholder – Freedom High School (Virginia) – Age: 18 Height: 6’2 – Bats: Right/Throws: Right
Burkholder boasts impressive tools, led by plus-plus speed, plus raw power, and a strong chance to stick in center field. There are some questions about his pure hitting ability, and there’s some risk he becomes a bit of a tweener if he slows down as he gets older.
Garrett Shull – Enid High School (Oklahoma) – Age: 19 Height: 6’1 – Bats: Both/Throws: Right
Shull turns 19 on draft day, and there’s a good chance he’ll get to celebrate by becoming a pro baseball player. Shull projects to have above-average power in the future, with solid-average tools across the board. But, like Burkholder, he does come with some hit-tool risk.
Braylon Payne – Elkins High School (Texas) – Age: 17 Height: 6’2 – Bats: Left/Throws: Left
Payne is a young, projectible outfielder with at least plus speed, a chance to stick in center field. He’s probably more of a leadoff hitter, but he has room to grow into more power.
Dante Nori – Northville High School (Michigan) – Age: 19 Height: 5’10 – Bats: Left/Throws: Left
Nori is one of the fastest (and oldest) players in this year’s prep class — he turns 20 two months before Max Clark. But his overall package of tools is similar to Caldwell’s, with tons of twitch, good bat-to-ball skills, and the chance to be an above-average defender in center field.
Jayden Hewitt