​In 2024, the Detroit Tigers again faced a low draft slot, selecting 24th overall in the 2025 MLB amateur draft. Unlike the previous year, they benefited from a competitive balance Round A pick, which helped not only with the number of selections but also with the bonus pool to some degree. They adhered to a plan that spread their $10,990,000 pool across a mix of early underslot deals and inexpensive college picks, aiming to overslot later on to assemble a deeper talent pipeline. As always, the draft largely hinges on the top picks and the size of the signing bonuses those players command, and those two factors do not always align. The remainder of the roster-building effort tends to resemble a bulk purchase: you draft many players who you already have a promising feel for developing, hoping to yield a standout or two along with depth in pitching and defense across the farm system. Time will tell how the top selections pan out, but the Tigers showed a thoughtful adjustment to their strategy, striking a balance between smaller-program college selections, JUCO players, and a couple of high-upside prep arms, plus some talented but raw high school talents as value picks late in the draft.
Round 1: No. 24 – Jordan Yost, SS, Sickles High School (FL) — $3.25 million. The reaction to the Tigers’ first-round choice, prep shortstop Jordan Yost, left some bafflement. Yost is an advanced defensive shortstop and a left-handed hitter with a strong eye and a solid contact skill set. He remains wiry, with room to add substantial muscle in the coming years. He reportedly added 13 pounds after his first offseason, and his raw power sits around 40 grades for a teenage prospect. A reasonable projection is that within three years he could approach average raw power; in-game power could translate to about 45-grade power, providing a plus defensive shortstop who can hit 10–15 homers, swipe bases, and maintain a relatively low strikeout rate. The expectation is not extreme: a player who can hit for average, get on base, contribute some power and speed, and anchor the shortstop position. It’s plausible that Yost could push Bryce Rainer to third base and move McGonigle to second if he continues to develop. He may need a few years, but the upside is meaningful, and his current tool set already offers a solid floor.
Competitive Balance Round A: No. 34 – Michael Oliveto, C, Hauppauge, New York — $2.45 million. This Long Island prep catcher burst onto the scene with a notable performance in the World Wood Bat Association showcase, signaling potential as a catching prospect with projectable physical development and offensive potential to be refined as he matures.