Since Scott Harris took over running the Detroit Tigers in 2022, the team’s draft philosophy has tilted more heavily toward prep talent. Scouting department chiefs Rob Metzler and Mark Connor both came from organizations with a long track record of hunting prep talent, and they’ve done a really good job assembling an excellent young farm system with a few assists from deadline trades. 2023 second rounder Max Anderson is one of the few exceptions where they targeted a college bat early in the draft.
The recently turned 23-year-old was selected with their second round pick, 45th overall, in 2023 out of Nebraska.