​With the 2026 MLB amateur draft approaching in just a few days, and Scott Harris entering his fourth draft as the Detroit Tigers’ president of baseball operations, it seems like an ideal moment to revisit his initial three efforts. The 2023 draft, in particular, stands out as an especially strong class. Harris, along with amateur scouting director Mark Conner and assistant GM and VP of the scouting department Rob Metzler, delivered a draft that was clearly superior, a claim that feels especially warranted when considering how their work has already begun to bear substantial fruit three years later. Much of that early impact can be credited to Kevin McGonigle, whose performance to date has been transformative and may well prove to be the franchise’s finest position-player pick of all time. The Tigers unearthed a number of other promising players in that same class, and even beyond McGonigle, the 2023 draft could be remembered as one of the club’s best since the draft began in 1965.
In 2023, the Tigers selected 21 players, eventually signing 19 of them. This draft marked the first showcase of the club’s strategy under its new leadership. As expected, they favored left-handed hitters from the prep ranks who can play up the middle—a tendency that has continued with shortstop Bryce Rainer in 2024, and with shortstop Jordan Yost and catcher Michael Oliveto in 2025 as their first-round selections. The club invested heavily to lure a pair of promising, highly regarded arms away from their college commitments, complemented by a mix of athletic, small-school players with strong contact ability, along with a number of overlooked college arms and a junior college pick to round out the balanced class.
First up among the notable selections was Center Field prospect Max Clark from Franklin Community High School, who signed for an underslot $7,700,000 bonus, about $641,700 under the recommended amount. Clark has progressed rapidly, and at 21 he is enjoying a productive season at the Triple-A level while refining his game for the big leagues. He possesses exceptional hitting ability, striking out infrequently, drawing walks, and displaying improving power, with a development as a defender and base-runner that has him projecting as a potential force at the major league level. The question about his power ceiling remains, but he has already earned a place among the game’s premier outfield prospects and could be in line for a major league debut before the season ends. While Wyatt Langford may have been the faster path to the majors, Clark could ultimately prove to be the more valuable long-term asset.
Next in the class was Kevin McGonigle, the shortstop from Monsignor Bonner High School, whom the Tigers secured with a $2,847,500 bonus, about $540,000 over slot. The strategic use of Clark’s underslot savings allowed Detroit to double up on two highly regarded high school talents at the top of the draft. McGonigle’s rise through the minors has been swift, even in the face of a few injuries, and he is well on his way to securing AL Rookie of the Year consideration. As his power develops and he settles into the league, he could push for MVP contention, provided his power output continues to evolve. This selection has the potential to be the single most impactful pick in Tigers history, delivering a foundation that could anchor Detroit’s lineup for years to come.
In sum, the 2023 draft not only showcased a clear strategic direction and early success under Harris and his leadership team but also produced a pair of players who have already begun to change the club’s trajectory. The early returns from Clark and McGonigle hint at a bright future for Detroit, and the foundation they laid appears poised to influence the franchise for a generation. As Detroit moves toward the 2026 draft, there is reason to expect that Harris, Conner, and Metzler will once again deliver a strategically crafted class that aligns with the club’s long-term objectives and sustains the Tigers’ ascent in the competitive landscape of the sport.