Detroit Tigers 2024 MLB Draft Report Card

Best Pure Hitter: The Tigers have targeted one of the top available prep hitters in back-to-back drafts after taking Max Clark in 2023 and now Bryce Rainer (1) at No. 11 in 2024. Rainer is not the same sort of pure hitter that Clark was, but he has made strides with his swing over the last year or so and should be a solid pure hitter.

Best Power Hitter: Rainer’s (1) power stands out more than his pure hitting chops, and he has a chance to grow into plus game power. He’s a 6-foot-3, 195-pound lefthander with an ability to backspin the ball to all fields and, between his physical projection and bat speed, should find plenty of impact.

Fastest Runner: Outfielder Jackson Strong (7) was an impact baserunner with Canisius who went 57-for-64 (89.1%) on the bases over three years and stole 42 bases in 2024—the most in the MAAC and a top-five mark among all D-I hitters.

Best Defensive Player: Rainer (1) has tremendous arm strength—which is part of the reason many scouts were enamored with his pitching upside—and one of the better throwing arms of any position player in the class. That’ll be an asset for him as a defender on the left side of the infield, and, while he’s not the rangiest defender, he’s sure-handed with great instincts.

Best Fastball: Righthander Owen Hall (2) sits in the low 90s for the most part, but he has been up to 97-98 mph with high spin rates and a fairly easy plus projection moving forward. Righthander Michael Massey (4) still might be the pick for this category however thanks to a 93-96 mph fastball that he hides well in his delivery and features a near ideal mix of release height, riding life and cut that makes it an invisiball for hitters.

Best Secondary Pitch: Massey’s (4) slider wasn’t as consistently great this spring as it has been in the past, but at its best, it’s a plus low-80s breaking ball that pairs nicely with his fastball and leads to huge whiff rates. Both Massey’s fastball and slider might play better out of the pen than in a starting role. 

Best Pro Debut: Strong (7) was one of four Detroit hitters who debuted after signing, and he posted a .767 OPS in nine games with Low-A Lakeland. Lefthander Micah Ashman (11) made five appearances out of the pen with Lakeland, striking out nine batters and walked two in 6.1 innings. Ashman is tall with a steep attack angle on a low-90s riding fastball that got a solid rate of whiffs in his debut.

Best Athlete: Rainer (1) was a legitimate day one prospect as both a hitter and a pitcher. He’s not the classic speed-oriented athlete, but his body control and the ease of his delivery on the mound despite very little time focused on pitching spoke to his baseball athleticism. 

Most Intriguing Background: Righthander Josh Randall (3) was a catcher in high school but converted to pitching in college, first with Arizona where he battled through injuries, and then in 2024 with San Diego where he pitched in the 92-95 mph range with a bowling ball fastball. 

Closest To The Majors: Each of the Tigers’ first three picks are high school products who could use some development in the minors, but if healthy, Massey (5) could move reasonably quickly in a reliever role. If the Tigers are committed to developing him as a starter, he might need a bit more time given his struggles in that role as a collegian.

Best Day Three Pick (Or NDFA): Ashman’s (11) size, handedness and unusual fastball analytics make him an intriguing prospect in general, and his brief pro debut is an encouraging start to his career.