One Year Pro: Looking Back at the Tigers 2024 Draft Class

The 2025 MLB Draft is just days away and the Tigers are slated to pick No. 24, the latest they have made their first selection since 2012. This is going to be the third draft with President of Baseball Operations, Scott Harris as the chief executive in the draft room. Due to the Tigers picking later than prior drafts, there is no telling who they may take. In 2023, the team was third in the order and had to choose between Max Clark, Walker Jenkins, and Wyatt Langford, ultimately choosing Clark. Last season, the Tigers went the high school road again and chose Bryce Rainer.

The organization under the leadership of Scott Harris has made it an issue of drafting prep bats first. In 2023, four of the first five selections were taken out of high school. Last year, the team chose three prep bats before going to the college route for six consecutive picks. The philosophy of starting off drafting players that are younger and have more raw potential is new to the organization. Previously, under Al Avila, the Tigers made an effort to draft more players out of four year universities.

The organization has done a tremendous job at signing most players, which isn’t an easy task considering the amount of prep players taken. Traditionally, players drafted out of high school put a bigger dent in the team’s draft pool. Since 2023, the Tigers have drafted 42 players and 38 of them have signed. Nobody drafted before the 16th round has declined to sign with the team, instead going to their committed college.

Last July, the Tigers selected 21 men and 19 of them signed. Seven hitters, and 14 pitchers in total. Four consecutive pitchers were drafted in two separate instances. Four of the seven hitters selected are shortstops by trade. Three players were also taken from junior colleges. Although many of these players have only been playing professionally for a few months, many of them have made their name heard throughout the entirety of the organization.

Bryce Rainer –

The 20 year old shortstop was selected 11th overall out of Harvard-Lestlake. The school has made headlines in the past for featuring a starting rotation of current major leaguers, Max Fried, Lucas Giolito, and current Tiger, Jack Flaherty. Rainer pitched quite a bit in high school but dumped that ability to become a full time shortstop. He was slated to play baseball at the University of Texas but forwent his commitment to play professionally. His $5.8 million signing bonus was the 6th highest given out to a drafted player in Tigers history. Rainer lit up exit velocity charts in 149 plate appearances this year. He slashed .288/.383/.448 and hit five home runs while swiping nine bases. Unfortunately, all stats are final on the year for Rainer, who dislocated his shoulder diving back into first on a pickoff attempt in early June.

Owen Hall –

The former Vanderbilt commit was taken 49th overall in the second round. He sits at No. 11 on our Top 39 prospects list. Hall has been shut down since the beginning of May due to a stress reaction in his throwing shoulder but provided some of exciting footage in limited action. In nine innings with Lakeland, the right-hander gave up seven runs, struck out nine batters, and walked nine batters.  His fastball can reach up to 97 MPH and his slider breaks well off of the heater. He showcases mechanics similar to that of current Toledo Mud Hen, Troy Melton. The fastball jumps out to hitters due to the sizable extension coming off of the mound. It has not been made clear if Owen Hall’s season is officially over.

Ethan Schiefelbein –

Just like Bryce Rainer, Schiefelbein was drafted out of high school in California but was committed to UCLA rather than Texas. The southpaw has pitched nine innings for the FCL Tigers this year, striking out nine and walking five. His fastball command and loopy curveball have impressed scouts due to the maturity of his pitches at such a young age. Schiefelbein hasn’t pitched since May 17th but has not been placed on the injured list and no injury has been reported.

Josh Randall –

The 22 year old was selected in the third round out of the University of San Diego. Randall was the first player selected out of college in by Detroit and the first player to play any minor league baseball last season. Randall is another fastball-slider pitcher. His fastball tops out at 97 MPH and his slider slings well out of his sidearm delivery. He has pitched a full season thus far in Lakeland. In 64.2 innings pitched, he has supported a 4.31 ERA, allowed 70 hits, 13 walks, and 58 strikeouts.

Mike Massey –

Drafted in the 4th round out of Wake Forest, Massey has not pitched so far professionally due to injury. He has been shut down for the rest of the season and has a right UCL sprain according to the minor league injury report. At Wake Forest, he threw a fastball, a slider, and a hammer like curveball. Massey appears to be a reliever when healthy.

Jack Penney –

Penney is another left-handed batting middle infielder. He was selected in the 5th round out of Notre Dame and has played a mix of shortstop and second base in 2025 for the Whitecaps. In West Michigan, the 22 year old has slashed .262/.409/.341 at the plate, featuring great plate discipline but lack of slugging. Penney is currently rehabbing with Lakeland after missing a month due to a shoulder injury.

Woody Hadeen –

Hadeen is an all around athlete from UC Irvine. Picked in the 6th round, the former Anteater has started at least 14 games at shortstop, second base, and centerfield this season. On top of playing the three premier defensive positions, Hadeen is a switch hitter who snags bases regularly. So far in 2025, he has stolen 23 bases which is third in the organization behind Seth Stephenson and Franyerber Montilla. Hadeen has slashed .235/.372/.349 in Lakeland this year.

Jackson Strong –

The 7th round draftee from Buffalo, New York was a major hit from the front office. Strong was drafted out Canisius College, a school typically known for hockey. He is a pure left handed outfielder, predominately playing in centerfield in Lakeland. Strong has cracked five home runs, stolen 16 stolen bases, and knocked down opposing pitching with his .847 OPS. The 21 year old is extremely quick on the bases and has the ability to turn singles into doubles and doubles into triples. Strong reached No. 21 on our latest prospect list.

Ethan Sloan –

Sloan was selected in the 8th round of Regis University in Denver, Colorado. He is left handed sinker-slider reliever and also features a changeup. His funky delivery has only allowed a batting average of .221 to opposing batters. Sloan this season has a 2.76 ERA in 29.1 innings pitched and striking out 24 batters.

Zach Swanson –

Swanson was drafted in the 9th round last season Toutle Lake High School and signed with Detroit, forgoing his commitment to Oregon State, the home of last year’s first overall pick, Travis Bazzana. Swanson is a currently on the full-season injured list, recovering from Tommy John surgery.

R.J. Sales –

Detroit found a 10th round gem in R.J. Sales from UNC Wilmington of the Coastal Athletic Association. The 21 year old right-hander showcases a rising fastball that averages 94.2 MPH and tops out at 97. His slider mixes well with his fastball, especially because Sales hides the ball well in his stride towards home plate. Opponents are hitting .187, chasing 31% of the time, and walking only 5.6% of the time against R.J. Sales. In 13 games, he has pitched in 53.1 innings, struck 44 batters, held a WHIP of .956 in addition to his 2.12 ERA.

Micah Ashman –

Ashman is a tall and lengthy left-handed throwing reliever from the University of Utah. He has been dominant for the Whitecaps this year with his 1.01 ERA across 35.2 innings pitched. He has only allowed 16 hits and walked only 7 batters. Micah Ashman’s WHIP is .645 and K rate is 29.7%. His fastball sits around 93 MPH but appears a bit more rapid to hitters due to his extension off of the mound. The changeup fades away from right handed batters immensely. Ashman has shown immediate success from the 11th round.

Jude Warwick –

Warwick has been another bright spot discovered in the later rounds. He was chosen out of Downers Grove North High School in Illinois. His college commitment was with the Michigan State Spartans. Warwick bats on the left side of the plate and not only can he poke balls to the opposite field, but can draw power to the other side of the diamond. The middle infielder has hit well in the Florida Complex League thus far, slashing .267/.393/.400, stealing 19 bases, and lifting nailing three home runs. Warwick should see himself playing for Lakeland by seasons end.

Lucas Elissalt –

Elissalt is the first of three JUCO players selected by the Tigers. Junior College players are morphed between prep and college players in the age bracket. Lucas Elissalt was drafted in the 13th round out of Chipola College, one of the more supreme JUCO schools in the country that has rostered players like Jose Bautista and Russell Martin.

His older brother, Frank, was selected by the Mets in the 19th round in last year’s draft. He throws similarly to current Erie SeaWolve, Jaden Hamm, who reaches back quite a bit for his overlapping pitches. Elissalt tunnels his rising fastball well with his roller coaster-like curveball and dagger esque slider. Opposing hitters are batting .202 in 49.1 innings against Elissalt’s 2.74 ERA. The 20 year old is ranked 34th on our Top 39 prospects list.

Preston Howey –

Selected out of Saint Mary’s of the basketball dominated West Coast Conference, Howey has been apart of a lethal bullpen duo with fellow 2024 draftee, Micah Ashman. Howey throws a fastball that sits at 93-94 MPH and tops out at 96. He throws two types of sliders, one that is a get-me-over to both righties and lefties, and a sweeper like slider. In 29 innings with West Michigan, Howey has struck out 27 batters, allowed only 15 hits, catapulting his ERA to a dense 1.55.

Zach MacDonald –

Born in Portage, Michigan, MacDonald was drafted in the 15th round out of Miami University of Ohio. He is the second and last outfielder selected in last year’s draft. MacDonald had an .823 OPS with the FCL Tigers in 52 plate appearances before getting the call up to Lakeland this July.

Gabriel Rosado –

From the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy, Rosado was selected in the 17th round as a catcher, the only such backstop selected by Detroit in 2024. He has slashed .270/.372/.297 in 43 plate appearances with the FCL Tigers.

Bryce Alewine –

Alewine was drafted from Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, Alabama. He has a 1.59 ERA this year in 22.2 innings thrown and has struck out 18 batters with the Tigers of the Florida Complex League.

Dawson Price –

Selected in the 20th round out of Eastern Oklahoma State Community College, another junior college. The school most notably graduated 2023 World Series champion, Jon Gray. Dawson Price has spent all of 2025 with many of his late round teammates in the FCL. In 22 innings pitched, Price has allowed 13 earned runs, eleven walks, and punched out 19 hitters.

Recap –

In the two drafts that Scott Harris and company have completed, they have gone extremely pitching heavy. There is no wrong in supplying deeply in arms due to their fragility, however the Tigers may see a more influx of hitters this upcoming draft. Despite that last sentence, the Tigers may seek to draft a pitcher in the first round, followed by outfielders in a middle infielder packed organization. At the moment, the farm system is extremely hitter friendly at the top and will look into pursuing a dominant arm to mix in with some of the high-profile bats.

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