Day 1 of the 2026 Draft included the Tigers' picks from Rounds 1-4, including Cameron Flukey at No. 22. Day 2 begins Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET through the conclusion of the Draft, spanning Rounds 5-20. Stream it live on MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+ and the MLB App.
DETROIT – The Tigers are well aware of their reputation for drafting up-the-middle position players from high school with their early picks. Even if they weren’t, the mock drafts over the last couple of months made it abundantly clear.
So you can excuse assistant general manager and scouting director Rob Metzler for cracking a smile Saturday night when asked about their selection of college players with their top three picks in this year’s Draft.
2026 MLB DRAFT PRESENTED BY NIPPON EXPRESS
Day 2: Sunday, July 12 (Rounds 5-20)
• 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. ET (MLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+)
Coverage
What initially looked like an outlier with Coastal Carolina right-hander Cameron Flukey their top pick at 22nd overall turned out to not be, well, a fluke. The Tigers drafted more college players in the first two rounds Saturday (three) than they did in the first two rounds of their previous three Drafts combined. Not since 2022, the Tigers’ final Draft under general manager Al Avila and scouting director Scott Pleis, had they used their top three picks on college players.
“Just a reflection of how the Draft fell,” Metzler said. “We line up our board to the best of our ability each year, bringing in perspectives from across the organization. Sometimes you never know how that board’s going to play out on Draft day. It’s what makes today so exciting, makes it a fun day. Couldn’t be more excited about how it turned out.
“It might look like a different crop than last year, and obviously our processes continue to develop, but I wouldn’t take anything more from it other than just the way 2026 Day 1 worked out for us.”
Whether that trend continues in Day 2 is another matter. The Tigers have typically used at least a couple mid- to late-round picks on high school players with the plan of paying them above slot to sway them away from a college commitment.
Here’s a look at the Tigers’ picks after Round 1:
Tyson LeBlanc, SS
- Round 2, Pick 61
- Bats/throws: R/R
- School: Kansas
- Calling Card: LeBlanc has a range of above-average tools, led by a combination of contact and power at the plate. He broke the Jayhawks’ single-season record with 25 homers after transferring from junior college. Doing so while playing shortstop, as the Tigers believe he can do in pro ball, creates an intriguing package in a prospect,
- Quote: ”He’s an all-around good player. It’s not just power. He had a tremendous season. And honestly, I think the thing that we’re most excited about is how he’s wired. He is an ultra-competitive kid that just has a really good mind for the game, really good aptitude and has shown progress over his college career.” – Tigers amateur scouting director Mark Conner
Evan Dempsey, RHP
- Comp Round B, Pick 69
- Bats/throws: L/R
- School: Florida Gulf Coast
- Calling Card: Dempsey was a two-way player for FGCU, but he’s expected to focus his pro career on pitching with a fastball approaching the mid-90s and a high-spin curveball and slider. He has high-strikeout stuff that could fit in a rotation or a bullpen, particularly if he gets a velo boost once he focuses full time on pitching.
- Quote: ”One of the things over the years we’ve been trying to add is really good athletes to the organization. We drafted Dempsey as a pitcher, but he was a really good hitter in college. Truthfully, it’s the athlete, it’s the compete, it’s the fire that he has. He’s been focusing a lot of energy on both sides of the ball, and truthfully, as he focuses on one side of the ball on the mound, we think he’s got a chance to take off. We’re super excited about him.” – Conner
Dominic Pellegrin, SS
- Round 4, Pick 125
- Bats/throws: R/R
- School: Holy Cross High School (LA)
- Calling Card: The Tigers still got their up-the-middle prep player, just later than usual and with a sneaky pick. Pellegrin didn’t rank in MLB Pipeline’s Top 300 Draft prospects, but he generated late buzz on the scouting circuit, particularly after a standout performance in the MLB Draft League. His athleticism stands out, particularly on defense, and his offensive game has a chance to blossom as he fills out physically.
- Quote: “Our area scout did a great job of identifying a player that wasn’t on the circuit. Players are everywhere, and they come from different places, different trajectories at different times. … He’s a very athletic kid that is wired really well, that has really good hands at short and has shown the ability to put the bat on the ball.” – Conner
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