After scooping up a pair of starting pitchers in Sunday’s early business from the three-day MLB Draft, the Tigers might be expected to turn toward position help when Round Two of the 20-round sweepstakes begins at 1 p.m. Monday.
The Tigers will have the day’s third pick, No. 39 overall, and it is known they crave middle-infield help as much as any commodity during a long rebuild.
Among players the Tigers could consider in the second round:
► Cody Morissette — Second base, Boston College
He’s a left-handed batter and teammate of Sal Frelick, who was scarfed up by the Brewers with the first round’s 11th pick. Morissette had a hand injury that knocked down his early spring numbers, but he can hit, more for average than power, and might fit as the Tigers move to re-shape, quickly if possible, their up-the-middle infield configuration.
► Connor Norby — Second base, East Carolina
A solid right-handed bat makes Norby a definite possibility if the Tigers are thinking middle infield with their second-round turn. Norby batted .415 in 61 games, with 15 home runs and a 1.143 OPS. He walked 33 times, struck out 34, all while stealing 18 bases.
► Peyton Stovall — Shortstop, Haughton (La.) High:
Stovall is listed as a shortstop but will be moving either to second base, or even to the outfield, given that his arm isn’t shortstop-grade. Position isn’t as important as his bat, which he swings left-handed – and he swings with fury.
► Wes Kath — Third base, Desert Mountain High, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Another one of those desert dandies who has the body, left-handed stroke, and ability to play a couple of infield positions that could lure the Tigers. It’s his power potential with that big frame (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) that will have him vacuumed up fairly early in Monday’s second round.
► Ethan Wilson — Outfielder, South Alabama
The Tigers have gone this route before, investing in a left-hand hitter who is pretty much limited to playing left field. That player, Christin Stewart, is all but out of the picture, and the Tigers might fear that Wilson — who has power to go with a reasonably advanced bat — could repeat a past mistake.
Lynn Henning is a freelance writer and former Detroit News sports reporter.
MLB Draft
► When: 1 p.m. Monday (Rounds 2-10), noon Tuesday (Rounds 11-20)
► How to watch: Stream at MLB.com
► Tigers picks: The Tigers own one pick in each round, with their first pick Monday at No. 39 overall.