As we’re reminded annually, there are no sure things in the MLB draft, whether you’re picking first, 30th or third, as the Detroit Tigers will on Sunday night in Seattle (thanks to a win in December’s first-ever MLB draft lottery).
It’s the fifth time the Tigers have had the third overall pick in the draft, which dates back to 1965, and, uh, it hasn’t gone particularly well: 1975’s pick, prep outfielder Les Filkins, hit the celiing at Triple-A; 1999’s pick, Eric Munson, lasted just parts of five seasons with the Tigers; 2003’s pick, Kyle Sleeth, never even reached Triple-A ; and 2021’s pick, prep pitcher Jackson Jobe, has yet to pitch in a game this year after dealing with lumbar spine inflammation in the spring.