Tigers 2021 Draft Day 2 coverage
The types of pitchers Detroit ended up drafting, especially in the college ranks, might have been slightly influenced from first-year Tigers pitching coach Chris Fetter, who joined Detroit after coaching at the University of Michigan. He spoke at the organization’s scouting meetings as spring began and gave ideas on the qualities he liked in college pitching.
Notable skill: The Tigers had been linked to high school shortstop Brady House with their top pick before drafting Jobe, so maybe it’s fitting that they used their top pick of Day 2 on Pacheco, whose body frame and skill set had drawn some comparisons to House. Both are left-handed hitters with power. Pacheco is a bigger slugger who worked on making more consistent contact this spring. The Tigers plan to play him at shortstop to begin his pro career, but his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame could eventually lead him to third base, where his soft hands and arm strength should play well defensively.
Quotable: “I worked, I sacrificed a lot coming into the spring, and I really had to learn my swing,” Pacheco said. “Over the summer, I had some swing-and-miss concepts and it kind of led me to some strikeouts. Over the spring, I cut down my strikeouts. I learned my swing. I tried to keep it as simple as possible and learned what I needed to do to cut down on strikeouts, whether it’s learning what pitches I can hit, staying off that high pitch a lot of guys are swinging at these days. Just learning my swing itself and what I can do at the plate, it’s helped me a lot so far.”
Notable skill: The Tigers have long loved SEC pitchers (Casey Mize and Spencer Turnbull among them), and Smith was one of the better ones this season with a breakout spring that included 113 strikeouts (eighth-most in the conference) over 98 1/3 innings. He throws a mid-80s slider and an upper-70s curveball to complement a fastball that sits in the low 90s and tops out at 95 mph. Smith has a big frame for his 6-foot-2 height.
Notable skill: For a smaller-school pitcher, Mattison is a big guy (6-foot-4, 235 pounds) with a big arm. His fastball reached 96 mph at last month’s first MLB Draft Combine; he was one of just three pitchers to throw that hard there. He posted a 95:14 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 80 1/3 innings in his senior season for the Bulldogs on his way to NEC Pitcher of the Year honors.
Notable skill: Though Kohlhepp’s fastball reportedly reaches 99 mph, it’s usually more around the mid-90s with sink that induces weak contact, complemented by a tight slider and a changeup. He struck out 65 batters over 61 1/3 innings as a redshirt sophomore at Notre Dame, but opponents batted just .195 against him, third lowest among ACC pitchers. Kohlhepp pitched more in relief in his lone season with the Irish, but he has the arsenal to start.
Notable skill: Murr was a Rawlings Gold Glove Award-winner at first base, but the Tigers identified him as an outfielder for the Draft. He played left field out of necessity in the Wolfpack’s final game at the College World Series last month, with the roster depleted by COVID-19 protocols. Murr is more of an athletic contact hitter than a slugger, batting .319 with seven homers, 16 doubles and three triples.
Quotable: “We were really comfortable with his bat,” Pleis said. “We’ve seen him play the outfield and first base and do some things. He’ll probably do both, with the way we do it now. [Tigers manager] A.J. [Hinch] likes versatility, which I think is great, so we’re more apt to use guys in different places and see how they react and see what they can do.”
Notable skill: Hurter is a big (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) lefty, but his pitching strength is more command than power. He throws a fastball that approaches the mid 90s for ground balls and sets up a sharp slider. He missed his junior season in 2020 due to Tommy John surgery and returned to Georgia Tech this spring for his senior year.
Notable skill: Marks’ fastball has steadily ticked up from an average of 87 mph in 2019 to 90 mph last year to 92 mph this spring, reaching as high as 98 mph this season. He not only throws four- and two-seam fastballs, but he can locate both to change eye level on hitters. The junior set school records with 10 wins and 101 strikeouts over 95 2/3 innings this season while winning Big South Conference Pitcher of the Year honors.
Notable skill: Schultz can run, rating as high as 70 on a scouting grade according to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis. He stole 22 bases in 24 attempts this year in his junior season at UK, good for second in the SEC, while posting a .329 average and a .401 on-base percentage. He has enough speed to play second base or center field in pro ball.