​With their fourth and final selection on the opening day of the 2026 MLB Draft, the Detroit Tigers chose the first high school prospect of the event, shortstop Dominic Pellegrin from Holy Cross High School in New Orleans, selecting him in the fourth round with the 125th overall pick. Pellegrin stands 6-foot-1 and weighs around 175 pounds, and he just turned 19 last month. He has already given a verbal commitment to play college baseball for his hometown Tulane Green Wave, which adds an interesting layer to the decision if the Tigers and Pellegrin eventually decide to part ways on a signing.
During his senior season, Pellegrin earned a spot on Louisiana’s state player of the year watch lists and compiled an impressive stat line, finishing the year with a batting average of .462, along with six home runs, 16 doubles, two triples, and 38 RBIs. Beyond his evident hitting ability, he has demonstrated solid bat-to-ball skills, and scouts have noted his infield range and overall athleticism, attributes that project well for his future as a middle-infield defender.
The choice of Pellegrin marks a pivot toward a younger, high school-developed skill set for Detroit, contrasting with the Tigers’ other Day 1 selections that leaned more on college experience. In the rest of the round, Detroit added three more college-bound players: Cameron Flukey, a right-handed pitcher from Coastal Carolina, taken at No. 22; Tyson LeBlanc, a Kansas shortstop selected at No. 61; and Evan Dempsey, a pitcher from Florida Gulf Coast, picked at No. 69. Each of these picks brings a different profile to Detroit’s farm system—college experience and proven competition in higher-level settings, contrasted with Pellegrin’s high school ceiling and the potential for rapid development if he signs.
For Pellegrin, the decision remains open. If he chooses to honor his Tulane commitment, he could head to college instead of pursuing a professional path with the Tigers. Should Detroit succeed in signing him, the team would be adding a premium infield athlete who could grow into a central figure in the organization’s strategic plans over the next several seasons. If not, Pellegrin’s ongoing development in the minor leagues would be watched closely by evaluators who see his combination of power potential, contact ability, and defensive versatility as a compelling project worth pursuing.
Andrew Graham, a freelance writer with a focus on baseball reporting, contributed to the coverage of these draft selections. This write-up draws from the reporting originally published by The Detroit News, which provided the context and details surrounding Detroit’s Day 1 draft strategy and the significance of selecting Pellegrin as the Tigers’ fourth-round choice and the eventual last pick of the day.