- The Detroit Tigers hold the No. 24 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.
- Experts predict the Tigers will likely select a high school position player, particularly a left-handed batter.
- The first three rounds of the draft occur in Atlanta on Sunday, July 13th.
The Detroit Tigers will soon be on the clock.
Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris is entering his third draft at the helm of the Tigers, after successful drafts in 2023 and 2024. But who will he draft for the organization at No. 24 overall in 2025?
We won’t know for sure until the draft begins in Atlanta on Sunday, July 13. But that hasn’t stopped experts from speculating.
The most recent round of mock drafts mostly agree that the Tigers will be targeting a high school position player with their first-round pick, but there isn’t much agreement beyond those parameters. That’s the direction Harris has gone in his first two drafts, selecting outfielder Max Clark and shortstops Kevin McGonigle and Bryce Rainer with the three first-round picks so far at his disposal.
Here is who the experts believe the Tigers will select with the No. 24 overall pick on Sunday:
Expert MLB daily picks: Unique MLB betting insights only at USA TODAY
USA TODAY: INF Xavier Neyens, Mt. Vernon (Wasington)
With the No. 24 overall pick, USA TODAY’s Gabe Lacques thinks the Tigers will select infielder Xavier Neyens out of Mt. Vernon High School in Washington:
“Big frame and potential big power in a nimble and athletic 6-4 package. In terms of offense, one of the top prep lefty bats available,” he writes.
Mt. Vernon has produced two drafted players, Kyle Kendrick and Mark Hendrickson, both of whom ended up with 10-year MLB careers. (The 6-foot-9 Hendrickson also played four seasons in the NBA.)
MLB Pipeline lists Neyens as the No. 25 overall draft prospect.
MLB.com: OF Slater de Brun, Summit (Oregon)
MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo thinks the Tigers will also click with a high schooler:
“High school hitters are ruling the roost with this spot, and the Tigers could pick from among de Brun, who gives off serious Corbin Carroll vibes, (Kayson) Cunningham, (Josh) Hammond or (Sean) Gamble,” he writes.
Another lefty slugger, de Brun has previously committed to Vanderbilt and lands at No. 24 among MLB Pipeline’s draft prospects.
CBS: SS Kayson Cunningham, Johnson (Texas)
Another mock draft, another high school lefty batter – this time with CBS’s Mike Axisa pairing the Tigers with the Texan Cunningham:
“Cunningham is arguably the best pure hitter in the prep ranks this spring and there’s a chance he’ll hear his name called in the top 5-15 picks. The Tigers have a competitive balance pick (No. 34) and a bonus pool that is plenty big enough to meet an elevated asking price, if that’s what Cunningham seeks.”
Cunningham has committed to the University of Texas and ranks a bit higher on MLB Pipeline’s list than Neyens or de Brun, coming in at No. 14.
Baseball America: Cunningham
Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo is in agreement with Axisa, saying the shortstop Cunningham would make a good selection:
“Cunningham’s bat would be a steal at this pick for the Tigers. … The Kevin McGonigle comparisons would take off if this happened.”
ESPN: SS Daniel Pierce, Mill Creek (Georgia)
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel thinks the Tigers have a lot of high school options at No. 24 in the draft and settles on another shortstop:
“I think Detroit takes a high school prospect with at least one if not both of its first two picks, here and No. 34 overall. Coy James could also be a surprise pick here, just like Milwaukee’s first-round pick, but I think it’s more likely one of them takes James in the comp round.”
The first three rounds of the 2025 MLB Draft take place on Sunday, July 13, with rounds 4-20 taking place on Monday, July 14.
You can reach Christian at [email protected]
