2021 MLB Draft: Detroit Tigers’ Options At No. 3 Could Point To Shortstop

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Written By Drew Ellis on July 6, 2021
2021 MLB Draft Tigers

Can you please rewrite the following sentence for me?<br><br>Original sentence: “The dog was running through the park chasing the ball.”

The Detroit Tigers, along with the rest of Major League Baseball, are eagerly anticipating the arrival of July as it brings us closer to the upcoming 2021 MLB Draft.

The Tigers have had significant advantages in previous drafts, as they secured the top pick in both 2018 and 2020, presenting them with major opportunities.

In the third position, Detroit once again has the opportunity to make a impactful choice with a high-leverage pick this year.

Who is the player that the Tigers will be focusing on in the 2021 MLB Draft?

2021 MLB Draft Rundown

On Sunday, July 11, the commencement of the 2021 MLB Draft will take place.

Below are the important details for this year’s annual event:

  • The dates are July 11th to July 13th, 2021.
  • Denver is the place where it is located.
  • MLB Network is a television channel dedicated to broadcasting Major League Baseball.
  • Number of Rounds: 20
  • The initial picks for Detroit are: 3, 32, 39.

Marcelo Mayer the focal point for most

The Tigers narrowly missed out on securing their third No. 1 pick in four years, but they came very close.

Marcelo Mayer, the shortstop from Eastlake High School (CA), is widely regarded as the top prospect in this year’s draft.

Mayer has been generating high interest from the Tigers, as reports suggest they are hopeful he will be available for selection at No. 3. Nevertheless, numerous mock drafts are currently projecting him as the primary choice for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Mayer, a left-handed batter, plays as a shortstop, a position that seems to have an abundance of talented prospects.

With his height of 6-foot-3 and weight of 185 pounds, he possesses a complete package, showcasing excellent bat skills and fielding ability.

If Mayer manages to secure the third position, it wouldn’t be surprising to witness the Tigers selecting him as their future shortstop. Bleacher Report had already predicted this outcome in its recent mock draft.

More pitching options available

It appears that the Tigers might be considering another young arm on the mound, whether Mayer goes first or second.

In this year’s draft, the top two pitchers are expected to be Jack Leiter from Vanderbilt and Jackson Jobe from Heritage Hall High School in Oklahoma.

Leiter, the son of former MLB standout Al Leiter, managed to significantly boost his value during his time at Vanderbilt after being selected as a 20th-round pick in the 2019 draft.

During the 2021 college season, the right-handed pitcher, standing at 6-1 and weighing 205 pounds, achieved an impressive 171 strikeouts across 104 innings of play.

Jobe, standing at 6-2 and weighing 190 pounds, emerges as the most promising prep pitching prospect in the draft. However, due to his age and the level of competition he has faced, this right-handed hurler is viewed as a slightly riskier choice.

Kumar Rocker, a right-handed pitcher hailing from Vanderbilt, might also have a chance to secure this position. Standing at an impressive 6-5 and weighing 245 pounds, Rocker’s physical presence is hard to overlook. However, it is worth noting that Rocker is considered a bit of a dark horse due to concerns surrounding his ability to command his fastball.

Could Casey Mize’s rise play a factor?

Casey Mize from Auburn was chosen as the number one pick by the Detroit Tigers in 2018.

Mize’s journey to the majors may have been gradual, but his performance with the Tigers this year has been full of potential.

With 88.1 innings pitched and a WAR of 2.7, he stands as the team’s leader. Although control posed some challenges during spring training, he has managed to reduce his walks to 26 while recording an impressive 71 strikeouts.

Mize’s performance is proving that he has the potential to be a valuable asset in Detroit’s pitching roster for many years ahead.

After selecting Mize, Detroit continued their streak by choosing outfielder Riley Greene as the fifth pick in 2019, and then further solidified their team by selecting third baseman Spencer Torkelson as the first overall pick in 2020.

Both players have yet to make their MLB debut with the Tigers, but they have both secured spots in the 2021 Futures Game.

Michigan’s Alex Mooney should be drafted early

One of Michigan’s talented prep stars is anticipated to be selected in the early rounds of this year’s draft.

According to MLB.com, Alex Mooney, the exceptional shortstop from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, holds the 64th spot in the draft rankings.

Mooney, standing at 6-1 and weighing 180 pounds, has committed to Duke University. He played a crucial role in leading St. Mary’s to a state championship this spring, contributing significantly to the Eaglets’ reputation as one of the nation’s finest prep teams.

During the spring season, Mooney displayed outstanding performance by achieving a batting average of .462 and accumulating an impressive 56 RBI for the Eaglets, who boasted a remarkable record of 43-1. Recognizing his exceptional skills, Mooney was recently bestowed the esteemed 2021 Mr. Baseball Award, sharing the honor as Michigan’s top senior player.

Mooney’s draft projections have been inconsistent, with some mock drafts placing him as a late-first round selection, while others anticipate him being picked in the second or third round.

Mooney aspires to emulate the success of former Michigan shortstops Derek Jeter, DJ LeMahieu, and Jake Cronenworth.

Can you please rewrite the following sentence? <br><br>”I am going to the store to buy some groceries.”

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