​The Detroit Tigers selected right-handed pitcher Evan Dempsey from Florida Gulf Coast with the 69th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. This extra selection came as part of the Competitive Balance Round B, positioned between Rounds 2 and 3. The club opened its 2026 drafting with a first-round choice, taking Coastal Carolina right-hander Cameron Flukey at No. 22 overall. At 21 years old, Flukey marks the Tigers’ first pitcher taken in the first round since Jackson Jobe went No. 3 in the 2021 draft.
In addition to these early picks, Detroit chose Kansas shortstop Tyson LeBlanc with its second-round selection, coming in at No. 61 overall. As the draft progressed, the Tigers had four Day 1 selections, anchored by their No. 22 overall first-round pick. Here is Detroit’s outlook for the first five rounds of the 2026 MLB Draft, noting the club holds 20 total selections across the 20-round event: Round 2 features RHP Evan Dempsey from Florida Gulf Coast; Round 3 has no pick due to forfeiture following Valdez’s signing; Round 4 is set at No. 125; Round 5 is set at No. 158. Beyond these rounds, rounds 6 through 20 follow the standard allotment for the 30 clubs in each round.
For fans looking to stay updated during the season, a Sports Briefing newsletter offers daily summaries of Detroit sports. If you’d like to reach out to the author for more insights, you can contact Christian at cromo@freepress.com. This coverage originated with the Detroit Free Press and was optimized for SEO to highlight Detroit Tigers’ selections in the 2026 MLB Draft, including Evan Dempsey’s No. 69 overall pick and the broader context of the team’s draft strategy and day-one results.