​Just when you think the Tigers have their draft strategy figured out, the mock drafts keep getting it wrong. For weeks, the prevailing theory was that Detroit would continue lean­ing into its recent tendencies: athletic prep bats, left-handed hitters, up-the-middle talents, and the high-contact profiles the organization has chased under Scott Harris. Instead, with the 22nd overall pick, the Tigers kicked off Day 1 by selecting a right-handed pitcher, Cameron Flukey from Coastal Carolina.
This wasn’t so much a wild reach as a deliberate pivot. Flukey entered the season as one of the stronger college arms in the class. Coastal Carolina had highlighted him in January as Perfect Game’s 2026 Preseason Pitcher of the Year and a Preseason First Team All-American after a 2025 campaign in which he went 7-2 with a 3.19 ERA, 118 strikeouts over 101 2/3 innings, and a .209 opponent average. He also made a notable impression on the biggest stages, fanning 25 over 22 NCAA Tournament innings and helping Coastal Carolina reach the Men’s College World Series.
The reason he slipped to 22 was tied to risk. Flukey missed a large portion of his junior season due to a rib stress fracture, finishing with 31 strikeouts in 24 innings. He returned with force, looking sharp after his comeback, reaching 98 mph with the fastball and showing feel for two breaking balls. At 6-foot-6, with a fastball/curveball foundation and starter attributes, Flukey gives Detroit a high-upside arm at the top of a system that could use more impact pitching.
Detroit followed that pick by re-entering the infield market with Kansas shortstop Tyson LeBlanc at No. 61 overall. LeBlanc became the highest-drafted position player in Kansas baseball history, and his 2026 season reinforced the pick: a .341 average, .706 slugging percentage, 25 home runs, 87 hits, 69 RBIs, 64 runs, 38 walks, and 11 stolen bases. He was also a First Team All-American who started every game at shortstop for a Kansas club that won 45 games, claimed the Big 12 regular-season title, won the Big 12 Tournament, and hosted a regional. LeBlanc fits a distinct version of the Tigers’ position-player profile. He is older than the prep shortstops taken in recent years, but his offensive production, defensive reliability, and the ability to stay on the dirt make the profile easy to understand.
The Tigers then added another intriguing arm at No. 69 with Florida Gulf Coast two-way standout Evan Dempsey. FGCU announced that Detroit selected Dempsey in Competitive Balance Round B, making him the program’s second-highest pick in history behind Chris Sale. Dempsey’s résumé in college was that of a true two-way contributor, though the early read from Detroit leans toward him being more of a mound presence. MLB Network analyst Carlos Collazo pointed out during the broadcast that Dempsey also flashed power, clubbing 20 home runs as an outfielder, while his velocity jumped in 2026, sitting around 92 mph and peaking at 95 with elite spin traits, suggesting a potential two-way upside that could translate into a bullpen or starting role.