97.1 The Ticket -- The Tigers continued to add more position depth in the farm system, selecting eight college players -- six position players and two pitchers -- on Day 2 of the Major League Baseball Draft.
This crop of draftees join high school outfielder Riley Green and Arizona infielder Nick Quintana, who the Tigers drafted on Monday night, in Detroit's top 10 picks of the draft.
Here's a brief look at each of the Tigers' second-day picks.
Round 3
- Andre Lipcius, 3B -- University of Tennessee (No. 83 overall)
- Lipcius hit .308 with 17 home runs (2nd in the SEC) and 58 RBIs this season.
- The nuclear engineering major has a power bat, but reports say he's not that quick defensively.
Tigers third-round pick Andre Lipcius is another college power bat at 3B, though he doesn't have defensive quickness and agility of second-round pick Nick Quintana. Lipcius ranked 145 on @MLBPipeline top 200 Draft prospects.
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) June 4, 2019Round 4
- Ryan Kreidler, SS -- UCLA (No. 112 overall)
- Kreidler hit .308 with nine homers in 2019. His Bruins will face Michigan in the Super Regionals this weekend.
- He has received high fielding grades.
There's more where this came from.-- @Ryan_Kreidlerpic.twitter.com/thHa8Llyfj
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) June 4, 2019Round 5
- Bryant Packard, LF -- East Carolina (No. 142 overall)
- Packard posted a .357 batting average and 22 HR in three years for the Pirates.
- Reports say he has potential for above-average power.
Formerly known as Bryant Packard.Now known as Bucket Man. pic.twitter.com/c6EEGFZADw
— Stephen Igoe (@StephenIgoe) June 4, 2019Round 6
- Cooper Johnson, C -- Ole Miss (No. 172 overall)
- Johnson caught 18 runners in 23 stolen base attempts in 2019.
- He has been pegged as one of the best defensive catchers in this draft.
Tigers take maybe the best defensive catcher in the draft in Cooper Johnson from Ole Miss. Elite catch/throw, arm strength is at least 70, impact defender. Bat came on this year somewhat, has made improvements, still definitely glove-first profile.
— Brian Sakowski (@B_Sakowski_PG) June 4, 2019Round 7
- Zack Hess, RHP -- LSU (No. 202 overall)
- Hess posted a 4.39 career ERA with 272 strikeouts in three seasons.
- He throws a fastball in the mid-90s, with a curveball still developing.
Tigers take Zack Hess from LSU. This is more of a traditional Tigers pick, big physical righthander with fastball into the mid-90's, curveball has shown plus though inconsistently, think he's a reliever but Tigers will try him as a starter, had him valued ahead of this
— Brian Sakowski (@B_Sakowski_PG) June 4, 2019Round 8
- Jack Kenley, SS -- Arkansas (No. 232 overall)
- Kenley saw a spike in his numbers in his first year as a full-time starter for the Hogs
- He slashed 324/.441/.571, with 12 HR and 50 RBIs
Round 9
- Austin Bergner, RHP - North Carolina (No. 262 overall)
- Bergner went 6-1 in 15 starts this season with 72 strikeouts.
Tigers take Austin Bergner from UNC in the 9th here. FB into mid-90's with excellent life, CH plays really well off of the FB, CB has been up and down, flashes hammer. Good upside here, we had him in the 5th.
— Brian Sakowski (@B_Sakowski_PG) June 4, 2019Round 10
- Jake Holton, 1B -- Creighton (No. 292 overall)
- The 6-1foot-1 Holton hovered around a .400 average all season, finishing at .389 (.408 regular season).
Now my favorite kid from Creighton has been selected, Jake Holton 1B. He was a JUCO transfer was batting an outstanding (.405/.502/.726) 14 HR on the year. Although defensively not the best, he mashes at the plate. He jumped up my board after watching him dominate. #MotorOn
— Tom Mussa (@tom_mussa) June 4, 2019
