Tigers sign Flukey, first-round pick with 'a full starter package'

The Tigers have signed Cameron Flukey, their top pick of the 2026 Draft. MLB.com’s Jim Callis reported that Flukey signed for $3.8 million, slightly less than the slot value of the pick at $4,082,700, but the club has not yet confirmed.

Flukey, a right-handed pitcher out of Coastal Carolina, was taken 22nd overall by the Tigers last weekend, representing a significant shift in Draft strategy for the franchise, which last took a pitcher in the first round in 2021 (Jackson Jobe and Ty Madden).

MLB Pipeline's No. 15 prospect coming into the Draft, Flukey missed the majority of his junior season due to a stress fracture in his ribs. He was able to make just seven starts, pitching to a 4.13 ERA. But his polished arsenal and track record were enough to keep him top of mind for many evaluators.

“He has an explosive fastball that he throws a ton of strikes with,” Tigers director of amateur scouting Mark Conner said last Saturday. “He has an ability to get it to both sides of the plate, work it up and down. His ability to spin the baseball, both the curveball and slider, is of high quality. He’s got the makings of a good changeup in there; he’s worked through some different grips. Honestly, it’s like a full starter package in the making.”