​The second day of the 2026 MLB draft has begun, and the Tigers could strike gold with some solid value picks. Remember that Tarik Skubal went in the ninth round and Kerry Carpenter was selected in the 19th round, underscoring that even later selections can become impactful contributors for Detroit. It’s uncommon to see first-10-round picks failing to sign, but the latter portion of the draft operates a bit differently. Slot values disappear, and teams are allowed to offer up to $150,000 without it counting against the bonus pool. Any amount above that threshold comes out of underslot-saving from the first 10 rounds. Usually, a high-risk, high-reward selection is made in the final four or five rounds, and those players don’t always end up signing.
For a refresher, Detroit’s 2026 choices included Coastal Carolina right-hander Cameron Flukey in the first round, Kansas shortstop Tyson LeBlanc in the second, Florida Gulf Coast two-way player Evan Dempsey as a right-handed pitcher in the competitive balance round B, and Holy Cross High School (LA) shortstop Dominic Pellegrin in the fourth round. The Tigers did not have a third-round pick due to the Framber Valdez signing.
Declan Dahl, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-hander from Louisiana Tech, stands out as an intriguing developmental pickup for Detroit. He spent two JUCO seasons at Seminole State (Okla.), posting a 13-6 record, a 3.36 ERA, and a 1.21 WHIP across 128.2 innings and 26 appearances (21 starts). During that span, he threw four complete games and maintained a 10.00 punch-out-per-nine-innings rate. Dahl’s JUCO success paved the way for a Division I opportunity at LA Tech, where he concluded the 2026 season as the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference honors. He went 7-4 with a 2.75 ERA over 15 starts and 81.1 innings, recording 102 strikeouts to just 23 walks, and his 4.40 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked 53rd nationally. Dahl profiles as a flyball pitcher, with 47.8% of batted balls in the air and a home-run-to-flyball rate of 10.1%, a figure that sits in a healthy range. His three-pitch mix includes a fastball that sits at 91-93 mph and reaches up to 95 mph, a slider in the 79-83 mph range, and a changeup at 80-84 mph. A low delivery release point supports his secondary offerings but could cap velocity, a potential hurdle to scaling further. The changeup is his best weapon when he can command it, offering sink and whiff potential. The slider, at times, stays over the middle of the plate, but his arm slot helps all three pitches play up and keep hitters guessing.
Meanwhile, the slate of college and prep talent continues to populate the Tigers’ pipeline. The organization has expressed interest in players with a blend of projection and recent track records, and Dahl’s combination of velocity, stocky frame, and three-pitch versatility makes him a plausible developmental target who could contribute down the line if he refinements his control and keeps the ball down more consistently.
On the defensive side of the diamond, MLB Pipeline has highlighted another notable prospect from the Pacific Northwest: a 21-year-old right-handed-hitting shortstop from Oregon who’s drawn attention for his ceiling. This player was described as the best prospect in the region, bringing a blend of power, speed, and projectable athleticism. A freshman All-American with a .969 OPS, he carried that strong performance into his sophomore year, producing 15 home runs and 10 stolen bases. He did face a setback in the Cape Cod League, which contributed to him sliding down some draft boards. Analysts note his low in-zone whiff rates and strong bat speed as indicators of his potential upside, even as the league’s adjustments provided a test for his approach. The combination of explosive bat-to-ball skills and a defensively versatile profile makes him an appealing target for future rounds, with the possibility of a high-impact contribution if he continues to refine his swing decisions and maintain balance under pressure.
As the draft unfolds, Detroit’s strategy will likely balance upside with tangible path-to-the-big leagues, seeking players who can grow into everyday roles and contribute to the Tigers’ winning trajectory in the coming years. The emphasis appears to be on players who can deliver development-year-by-year, with the potential for rapid ascents if their tools translate to performance at higher levels. The Tigers’ continued evaluation and development of these young talents will be crucial as they navigate the rest of the draft and shape their roster-building approach for the next era of Detroit baseball.