While many in Michigan were following along with the 2022 MLB draft to see who the Detroit Tigers would select, there were others with local ties who are going to the next level.
Here is a rundown of the local talent taken so far in this year’s MLB draft:
TIGERS PICKS:
Day 2: Breaking down Tigers’ picks in Rounds 3-10
Tigers select Texas Tech 2B Jace Jung with No. 12 overall pick in MLB draft
Tigers select Oklahoma SS Peyton Graham with No. 51 overall pick in MLB draft
OF Clark Elliott, Michigan
Vitals: 6 foot, 185 pounds.
Bats/throws: Left/right.
Drafted: Second round (No. 69 overall) to Oakland Athletics.
The buzz: A standout for U-M, Elliot took a massive jump in his junior season. Projected as a corner outfielder in the pros, Elliot was named to the All Big-Ten team by coaches after setting career highs in batting average (.337), home runs (16), RBIs (69) on-base percentage (.430) and runs scored (73). Scouts are said to like his speed and bat-to-ball skills, but he received mixed reviews on how his power will translate at the next level. MLB’s Jim Callis said the upside comparison he has heard is Michael Brantley.
P Andrew Taylor, Central Michigan
Vitals: 6-5, 190 pounds.
Bats/throws: Right/right.
Drafted: Second round (No. 80 overall) to Houston Astros.
The buzz: Taylor just finished his sophomore season and dominated in each of his first two years in Mount Pleasant. After getting named first team All-American in 2021, by ABCA/Rawlings, D1 Baseball and Baseball America, he followed it up with another strong year. Taylor finished this past season at 8-4 with a 2.45 ERA and 126 strikeouts. He is sixth in program history in strikeouts in just two years. This was seen as a reach by some experts, as MLB Pipeline had Taylor ranked No. 156 overall by MLB Pipeline, and D1 Baseball gave him a fifth-round grade. His fastball tops out around 94 mph, but has a high spin rate, something the Astros covet. His changeup is seen as his “plus” pitch.
P Brock Porter, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Vitals: 6-4, 208 pounds.
Bats/throws: Right/right.
Drafted: Fourth round (No. 109 overall) to Texas Rangers.
The buzz: Considered by MLB Pipeline to be the top pitching prospect in the draft, Porter’s fall to the fourth round is stunning. Porter won three state titles in three seasons with Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and won Gatorade’s state player of the year award in 2021 and 2022. He also won Gatorade’s national player of the year honor in 2022 after going 9-0 with a 0.41 ERA, tossing 115 strikeouts in 58 innings and three no-hitters. The 19-year-old is committed to playing for Clemson this fall under former U-M coach Erik Bakich. His draft slide may improve the odds of Porter suiting up for the Tigers and delaying his pro debut.
OF Jakob Marsee, Central Michigan
Vitals: 6-0, 180 pounds.
Bats/throws: Left/left.
Drafted: Sixth round (No. 180 overall) to San Diego Padres.
The buzz: Marsee, an Allen Park native, had a breakout year for Central Michigan last season. Hitting .278 with a team-high four home runs and 29 RBIs, he ranked third on the Chippewas with 58 hits and fourth with a .402 slugging percentage. In his career, Marsee started in 130 of 134 games from 2020-22, hitting 12 homers and 101 RBIs. He’s the second Chippewa off the board following Houston’s selection of Andrew Taylor in the second round.
P Cameron Weston, Michigan
Vitals: 6-2, 215 pounds.
Bats/throws: Right/right.
Drafted: Eighth round (No. 227 overall) to Baltimore Orioles.
The buzz: Weston, named the No. 4 overall Big Ten prospect by D1Baseball, went 5-4 with a 4.47 ERA, 92 strikeouts and 92 allowed hits in 81⅔ innings pitched. He was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team as a reliever and closed out an NCAA tournament win over Louisville on June 4 with two innings of one-hit relief with two strikeouts. In the Cape Cod Baseball League this summer, he was 4-0 with a 0.84 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 21⅓ innings. The Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, native is the fourth pitcher to be selected by the Orioles in this year’s draft.
OF Joe Stewart, Michigan
Vitals: 6-4, 215 pounds.
Bats/throws: Right/right.
Drafted: Ninth round (No. 268 overall) to Los Angeles Angels.
The buzz: After a four-year career at Michigan State, Stewart transferred to U-M last season and had an immediate impact. The Portage native hit .349 in 269 at-bats, 13 homers and 56 RBIs. He played a vital role in Michigan’s Big Ten tournament championship win over Rutgers on May 29, where he had two doubles. He later was named to the All-Big Ten third team by coaches and the All-NCAA Louisville Regional team. The 24-year-old is one of the draft’s oldest prospects, but his polished skillset could help him at the next level.
Contact Tony Garcia at apgarcia@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @realtonygarcia. Chandler Engelbrecht is a reporting intern at The Detroit Free Press and can be reached at CEngelbrecht@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @ctengelbrecht.