​The Detroit Tigers selected Tyson LeBlanc, a standout two-way player for the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, in the Competitive Balance Round B of the 2026 MLB Draft with the 69th overall pick on Saturday afternoon. LeBlanc, a junior from Tampa, Florida, bats left-handed and throws right-handed, and his slot value is set at $1.25 million. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the 101st-best player in the class.
Dempsey stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 205 pounds, carrying an overall mound grade of 45. His fastball sits in the 50 grade range, with a curveball rated at 55, a slider at 50, a changeup at 45, and a control grade of 55, according to MLB.com’s scouting report. The report notes that Dempsey’s athleticism translates well to the mound, pairing an electric fastball with a dependable pair of breaking balls as his go-to offerings most of the time. He has often sat around 92-94 mph, reaching 95 at times, though his velocity has dipped slightly due to fatigue from his two-way duties as an outfielder, a factor that evaluators believe may improve with a full focus on pitching.
Dempsey displays elite spin rates, exceeding 3,000 rpm with his breaking balls, featuring an 80-82 mph curveball with an 11-to-5 shape that can miss bats when it’s on. He can adjust his arm slot to get on top, a tendency that will need to be addressed at the next level because sharp hitters will pick up the change. He also throws a harder slider and has shown a fringy changeup that he doesn’t use frequently. Overall, he is described as a solid strike-thrower.
In the field and at the plate, Dempsey carries an overall grade of 45, with a hit grade of 50, a power grade of 40, a run grade of 50, an arm grade of 60, and a fielding grade of 50. The scouting report highlights his left-handed hitting ability, noting that Dempsey has a good feel for hitting from that side, taking professional at-bats, working counts, and making substantial contact, though he has yet to demonstrate substantial impact at the plate. While there is more ceiling with him on the mound—some compare him to a Luke Weaver-type who could start immediately but may eventually move to the bullpen—the potential remains significant on both sides of the ball.
During the 2026 season, the 20-year-old hurler earned a number of honors with FGCU, including Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist, Golden Spikes Award semifinalist, and John Olerud Two-Way Player Award semifinalist honors. He was also named the Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year and earned a spot on the All-ASUN First Team as both a pitcher and an outfielder. Dempsey led FGCU with 226 plate appearances, scoring 57 runs, tallying 18 doubles, and swiping 15 stolen bases. He totaled 76 hits, 45 RBIs, 10 home runs, and 26 walks. On the mound, he logged 82 2/3 innings pitched, 116 strikeouts, and two complete-game shutouts, contributing to FGCU’s competitive presence in the conference and drawing attention from MLB scouts for both his two-way versatility and his high-upside as a pitcher.