With the 147th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Tigers have selected infielder Jack Penney.
Entering this season, Penney was expected to be a more highly coveted prospect on draft day, but he stumbled out of the gate as a junior at Notre Dame and is likely being drafted here as a player who fits the organizational philosophy with likely cost-saving bonus demands. He is the first completely off-the-board reach for Detroit in this draft, taking the final spot on Baseball America’s Top 500 players and going completely unmentioned elsewhere.
What makes Penney a good fit for what the Tigers want to do on the field is his intelligent approach at the plate.