2013 DRAFT NEWS

Tigers heed call to arms in 2013 First-Year Player Draft
Detroit picks 25 hurlers, with University of Florida's Crawford selected 20th overall

By Bobby Nightengale / MLB.com | 6/8/2013 11:05 P.M. ET

DETROIT -- The Tigers have one of the best rotations in the Majors, but their farm system doesn't have many pitchers who resemble those in the big leagues -- only three of MLB.com's top 20 Tigers prospects are starting pitchers.

So Detroit went after advanced pitching in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, ultimately taking 25 hurlers. The team's first seven picks were all collegiate pitchers, and the plan is to let nearly all of them begin as starters, even if they are still developing pitches.



"We're going to give these kids every chance to go out and start," said David Chadd, the Tigers' vice president of amateur scouting. "Where their role ends up at the end, that'll be in time to tell us that."

With the 20th overall selection, the Tigers took University of Florida right-handerJonathon Crawford, who throws a mid-90s fastball, a solid two-seamer and a late-breaking slider. The team's second pick, and 39th overall, was Corey Knebel, a closer out of the University of Texas who will transition back to a starter and who has a mid-90s fastball that tops out at 98 mph. He also has a curveball, a slurve and a changeup.

Crawford had mixed results this spring, with a 3.84 ERA, but he went 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA in six outings for Team USA last summer. Four of those appearances were against Cuba, including most of the lineup that the country took into the World Baseball Classic.

"That's what attracted us to Jonathon Crawford," Chadd said in a conference call on Friday morning. "When you [look at] the whole body of work, that helped us make our decision easier."

Starters who can strike out a lot of hitters seem to be the theme in both the big leagues and in this year's Draft strategy. The scouting department also hopes that college pitchers will be able to rise through the ranks more quickly than high school prospects.

"When you're evaluating college pitchers," Chadd said, "one thing that jumps out at you is their ability to strike out college hitters."

The lack of hitters picked by the Tigers shows how comfortable they are with the position players in their farm system.

"We feel good about what we have at the lower levels and what we have coming," Chadd said. "I think it's fair to say we were looking for upper-level pitching depth we'd like to get in the system and get it going."

Detroit's second-round pick, left-hander Kevin Ziomek from Vanderbilt University, and third-round right-hander Jeff Thompson (University of Louisville) both have more than 100 strikeouts this season. The two are facing each other in the NCAA Super Regional, which also features the Tigers' seventh-round pick, outfielder Connor Harrell from Vanderbilt, and their 11th-round pick, Louisville right-hander Chad Green.

The Tigers also selected 11 players from the Southeastern Conference, including ninth-round right-hander Will LaMarche (LSU), whose fastball has topped out at 97 mph; 12th-round infielder Dominic Ficociello (Arkansas), who hit a team-high .355 before his numbers declined during his sophomore and junior seasons; and 15th-round pick Raphael Rhymes (LSU), who led the nation with a .431 batting average last year.

"It just seems like when you get to see them against the best competition, you get to see the best out of them and see what they are all about," said Scott Pleis, the Tigers' director of amateur scouting. "It's easy to take them out of there."

Detroit also drafted relatives of two current players -- outfielders Ben Verlander, brother of Justin (14th round), and Torii Hunter Jr. (36th). Verlander led Old Dominion University in slugging (.638), on-base percentage (.429) and stolen bases (13), and has a strong possibility of signing. Hunter, a top football recruit headed for Notre Dame, is unlikely to do so.

"I think things went as hoped," Chadd said. "I won't say there weren't a couple of situations where we kind of had to adjust on the fly pretty quickly, but that's the nature of the Draft. I think things went well. We were happy with our selections. We got the guys we wanted to get."

In the Pipeline
The Tigers are hoping to inject power pitching into their farm system. Although some scouts project many of the Tigers' selections as future relievers, all of the pitchers will have the opportunity to start. As an example, the team points to Drew Smyly, who transitioned into a reliable reliever at the Major League level after working as a starter prior to this season.

Crawford may become the Tigers' top pitching prospect, ahead of last year's top selection, Jake Thompson, having tossed a no-hitter at a NCAA Regional game last year and helping Team USA last summer. Scouts also like the team's fourth-round choice, Austin Kubitza from Rice University, who has two solid pitches. If he can develop a third pitch, he'll join Crawford as one of the team's top pitching prospects.

Bobby Nightengale is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Draft Tracker - Detroit Tigers
Players with bold name have signed with Detroit as of 06.28.2013

PICK		_____PLAYER_____	__SCHOOL__	_POS_	B/T_	CLASS	PLAYER INFO
20		Crawford, Jonathon	Florida (FL)	RHP	R/R	JR	6'02" 205lbs DOB: 11/01/91 | There's nothing like a no-hitter at a Regional to raise your profile a bit. Truth be told, Crawford would be high on radar screens anyway with his pure stuff, though some inconsistent performances during his junior season kept him from being among the top few college pitchers on this list. He has a plus fastball that can touch 96 mph and throws a hard breaking ball to go along with it, a combination he used well for Team USA over the summer. Crawford is strong with a good delivery and arm action. As big as his stuff is, though, he will have to learn to soften it up somehow in the future. Everything he throws is hard, and the ability to change speeds more effectively will be a necessary skill to refine going forward.
39		Knebel, Corey	Texas (TX)	RHP	R/R	JR	6'03" 210lbs DOB: 11/26/91 | University of Texas relievers have often done well in the Draft. Huston Street is the obvious name that jumps out, and J. Brent Cox was a second-round pick a year after Street. Knebel appears poised to be the best Longhorns closer since then and was 13 saves shy of Street's career saves mark entering the 2013 season. The tall right-hander gets it done with a good two-pitch power combination, a fastball that hits the mid-90s and a downer curve with bite that's a true out pitch. Knebel has the "give me the ball" mentality you want to see in the 9th inning, and there's a chance he'll get to finish games at the next level, too.
58		Ziomek, Kevin	Vanderbilt (TN)	LHP	R/L	JR	6'03" 200lbs DOB: 03/21/92 | A highly regarded prospect coming out of the Massachusetts high school ranks in 2010, Ziomek headed to Vanderbilt rather than sign with the D-backs, who drafted him in the 13th round that year. He had an inconsistent sophomore season as a starter for the Commodores, but threw well over the summer in the Cape Cod League, and that carried over into his junior season as Vandy's Friday starter. He has very good stuff from the left side, with a good three-pitch mix. His fastball can be plus at times, he has an outstanding changeup and an effective breaking ball to go along with it. There's some concern about his arm action, but Vandy lefties who perform well tend to do pretty well on Draft day. In the Cape, Ziomek made five starts, going 3-0 with a 1.27 ERA over 28 1/3 innings. He gave up just 22 hits and six walks while striking out 36.
94		Thompson, Jeffrey	Louisville (KY)	RHP	R/R	JR	6'06" 245lbs DOB: 09/23/91 Thompson was a three-sport star at Floyd Central High School in Indiana and was recruited by college football coaches before choosing baseball. At 6-foot-6, 248 pounds, Thompson brings an imposing presence to the mound as a right-hander. He has dominated hitters this year and had a 28-inning scoreless streak in March. But scouts wonder how well his stuff will translate as a professional. Thompson's fastball sits in the low-90s, and he mixes it with a good slider and changeup. His fastball doesn't have much action, though his arm angle allows him to throw it downhill and create groundballs. Despite his size, Thompson has a loose, easy delivery.
126		Kubitza, Austin	Rice (TX)	RHP	L/R	JR	6'05" 220lbs DOB: 11/16/91 | Rice University has generated a fair amount of high-end pitching talent in the Draft over the years. While Kubitza doesn't appear to be a Jeff Niemann or Philip Humber type, he's shown an ability to match up against the best pitchers in the college game, serving typically as Rice's Friday starter. He's done so basically using two pitches, a fastball that sits in the upper 80s and will touch 90 mph with a ton of sink and a nasty slider he has confidence in to throw in any count. He does have a changeup, but never uses it. That lack of a third pitch, along with some command issues, has most thinking he's best suited in a bullpen role in the future.
156		Farmer, Buck	Georgia Tech (GA)	RHP	L/R	SR	6'04" 218lbs DOB: 02/20/91 | Rather than sign with the Milwaukee Brewers, who took Farmer in the 15th round of the 2012 Draft, Farmer returned to Georgia Tech for his senior season, and it's looking like it may have been a good move for the right-hander. A strong, durable workhorse type, Farmer will mix four Major League average or better pitches. His fastball may top out at around 91 mph, but it seems faster thanks to an above-average changeup that's a legitimate weapon. Add in a sharp slider and a curve that shows sign of being a usable second breaking ball and you have the makings of a solid middle-of-the-rotation-type starter. The new Draft rules led to teams taking a lot of college seniors in the early rounds a year ago, and it stands to reason it will happen again, something that could work in Farmer's favor.
186		Drummond, Calvin	Arizona Christian (AZ)	RHP	R/R	5S	6'03" 200lbs DOB: 09/22/89 | Drummond has had a transient college career and attended four different schools in five years, though he only pitched at two of them. Most recently, he was declared ineligible at San Diego and transferred to Arizona Christian this year, only to find himself ineligible there as well. Drummond hasn’t pitched in a game this year, but scouts have watched his regular bullpen sessions. His stuff hasn’t suffered and his fastball sits in the mid-90s. He mixes it with a good slider, as well as a curveball and changeup. Drummond has the stuff to be a starter, but he is already 23 and could be fast-tracked as a reliever.
216		Harrell, Connor	Vanderbilt (TN)	CF	R/R	SR	6'03" 220lbs DOB: 03/24/91 Harrell has patrolled center field for Vanderbilt for four years and his impressive tools have been well established. His performance, however, was always somewhat lacking. Harrell began to put it together this spring and is one of the better college seniors in the Draft. Listed at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, he is physical and has above-average speed. Harrell has good power, but it comes with a lot of swing-and-miss. Harrell has a good arm and enough range to continue manning center field as a professional. He was drafted by the Tigers in the 31st round in 2012 and stands to be selected much earlier this year.
246		Reininger, Zach	Hill JC (TX)	RHP	R/R	J2	6'03" 170lbs DOB: 01/28/93
276		LaMarche, Will	LSU (LA)	RHP	R/R	SO	6'03" 220lbs DOB: 08/07/91
306		Coffman, Kasey	Arizona State (AZ)	CF	L/R	JR	6'03" lbs DOB: 09/08/91
336		Green, Chad	Louisville (KY)	RHP	L/R	JR	6'03" 210lbs DOB: 05/24/91
366		Ficociello, Dominic	Arkansas (AR)	3B	S/R	JR	6'04" 185lbs DOB: 04/10/92 | An intriguing switch-hitting prospect in the SEC entering the 2013 season, Ficociello struggled for much of the season, leaving his Draft value somewhat in question. Ficociello had been a solid high school prospect, taken in the 20th round by the Tigers in 2010. An encouraging freshman year led to a so-so sophomore year and he was in and out of the starting lineup for much of his junior year. He has shown good bat speed, leading some to feel that he could develop power down the road. He's played mostly third and first, though he dabbled at second last fall.
396		Green, Austin	University of San Diego (CA)	C	R/R	SR	6'02" 210lbs DOB: 02/22/90
426		Verlander, Ben	Old Dominion (VA)	RF	R/R	JR	6'04" 190lbs DOB: 01/31/92
456		Rhymes, Raphael	LSU (LA)	OF	R/R	SR	6'00" 190lbs DOB: 10/22/89
486		McAlpine, Duncan	Dallas Baptist (TX)	C	L/R	SR	5'11" 216lbs DOB: 04/10/91
516		Negron, Steven	Miami Dade CC South (FL)	SS	S/R	J2	5'08" 175lbs DOB: 05/13/93
546		Maciel, Jonathan	Cal State - Long Beach (CA)	RHP	R/R	JR	6'02" 215lbs DOB: 11/17/92
576		Pritcher, Austin	The Citadel (SC)	RHP	R/R	SR	6'01" 190lbs DOB: 02/13/91
606		Wotherspoon, Matt	Pittsburgh (PA)	RHP	R/R	JR	6'01" 175lbs DOB: 10/06/91
636		Powell, Curt	Georgia (GA)	SS	R/R	SR	6'00" 180lbs DOB: 04/30/91
666		Norris, Daryl	Mississippi State (MS)	RHP	R/R	JR	6'01" 205lbs DOB: 06/12/91
696		Alexander, Tyler	Carroll HS (TX)	LHP	R/L	HS	6'03" 180lbs DOB: 07/14/94 | Alexander has been one of the best high school pitchers in Texas this season, pitching for the school that produced 2012 first-round pick Courtney Hawkins. He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of three straight starts in April, completing one of them. Alexander's fastball sits in the upper-80s, occasionally touching 91 mph, with good sinking action. He also throws a curveball, slider and changeup, giving him four pitches with the potential to be Major League-average offerings. Alexander commands all of his pitches well and has a good feel for pitching. He will turn 19 two days after the signing deadline and will be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2015 if he upholds his commitment to TCU.
726		Edwards, Chase	Hill JC (TX)	RHP	R/R	J1	6'01" 185lbs DOB: 02/04/94
756		Kirkland, Johnnie	Southeastern U (FL)	RHP	R/R	5S	6'01" 200lbs DOB: 08/25/89
786		Castano, Adrian	Benjamin Cardoza HS (NY)	CF	L/L	HS	6'03" 180lbs DOB: 08/20/95 |
816		Mantiply, Joe	Virginia Tech (VA)	LHP	R/L	SR	6'04" 200lbs DOB: 03/01/91
846		Sitz, Scott	Florida State (FL)	RHP	R/R	SR	5'10" 210lbs DOB: 09/10/90
876		Sullivan, Charley	Alabama (AL)	RHP	R/R	SR	6'01" 195lbs DOB: 10/13/90
906		Beck, Ryan	New Mexico State (NM)	LHP	R/L	SR	6'04" 230lbs DOB: 12/11/90
936		Huber, Brett	Ole Miss (MS)	RHP	R/R	SR	6'03" 210lbs DOB: 03/23/90
966		Bailey, Tanner	Ole Miss (MS)	RHP	R/R	5S	6'06" 235lbs DOB: 07/06/90
996		Armstrong, John	Bishop Carroll Catholic HS (KS)	2B	R/R	HS	5'10" 175lbs DOB: 10/25/94
1026		Holland, Brad	Mesquite HS (AZ)	2B	R/R	HS	6'02" 170lbs DOB: 06/16/94
1056		Puk, A.J.	Washington HS (IA)	LHP	L/L	HS	6'06" 205lbs DOB: 04/25/95 | It can be tough for high schoolers in Iowa to get seen, given the weather and the timing of their season, but Puk did as much as any prepster with his summer performances to offset that. A two-way player who stood out on both sides of the ball at the Area Code Games, Puk also performed well at the Perfect Game All-American Classic. While he has some pop from the left side of the plate, 6-foot-6 lefties who throw up to 93 mph with a breaking ball don't grow on trees. Given the premium placed on left-handed pitching, teams were showing much more interest in him on the mound than at the plate. Puk does like to hit, and if he wants to continue swinging the bat, he could continue on to the University of Florida as a two-way player. But rest assured, scouts were trying to make sure they saw as much of Puk on the mound as possible leading up to the Draft.
1086		Hunter, Torii	Prosper HS (TX)	CF	R/R	HS	6'02" 180lbs DOB: 06/07/95 |
1116		Deeg, Nicholas	Lake Orion HS (MI)	LHP	L/L	HS	6'05" 205lbs DOB: 06/26/95
1146		Wenson, Harrison	U Detroit Jesuit HS (MI)	C	R/R	HS	6'03" 215lbs DOB: 04/21/95
1176		Grier, Anfernee	Russell County HS (AL)	CF	R/R	HS	6'00" 170lbs DOB: 10/13/95 | The wiry and athletic Grier, who hails from the high school that produced the Rasmus brothers, has some intriguing tools scouts like. A shortstop in high school, Grier's athleticism might play better in the outfield, where his speed should allow him to chase down balls in center. His above-average arm would play well in right field, though he doesn't have the power profile for the corner spot. He should grow into some more pop in the future, though he's not likely to be a huge power guy. Grier is a little raw with the bat and can get a little pull-happy, but there are some skills to work with. The team that feels they can unlock his potential will take him and try to keep him from honoring his commitment to Auburn.
1206		Johnson, Taylor	St. Edwards University (TX)	2B	L/R	SR	5'08" 170lbs DOB: 08/21/90

Tigers sign top pick, 18 other selections
BECK'S BLOG
Posted on June 14, 2013 at 1:55 pm

The Tigers have agreed to terms with top pick Jonathon Crawford, the former University of Florida right-hander who went 20th overall in last week’s First-Year Player Draft.

The deal had been expected, both for the spot where Crawford was drafted and its accompanying draft slot. Terms weren’t announced, but the 20th overall selection carried a slot of $2,001,700.

Most likely, Crawford will report to short-season Class A Connecticut. Tigers VP of amateur scouting David Chadd said last week that he expected Crawford and the other pitchers they selected on the first day of the draft — right-hander Corey Knebel from the University of Texas went with the 39th overall selection, while Vanderbilt left-hander Kevin Ziomek went with the 58th pick — to begin their careers there. Neither Knebel nor Ziomek have signed yet.

The Tigers announced deals with 18 other selections from the draft Friday, but none earlier than the fifth-round selection. Among the other signings:

• 5th rounder Buck Farmer, RHP, Georgia Tech
  
• 6th rounder Calvin Drummond, RHP, Arizona Christian
  
• 8th rounder Zach Reininger, RHP, Hill (TX) JC
  
• 10th rounder Kasey Coffman, CF, Arizona State
  
• 12th rounder Dominic Ficociello, 3B, Arkansas
  
• 13th rounder Austin Green, C, Univ. of San Diego
  
• 14th rounder Ben Verlander, OF, Old Dominion
  
• 16th rounder Duncan McAlpine, C, Dallas Baptist
  
• 18th rounder Jonathan Maciel, RHP, Cal State Long Beach
  
• 19th rounder Austin Pritcher, RHP, The Citadel
  
• 21st rounder Curt Powell, SS, Georgia
  
• 25th rounder Johnnie Kirkland, RHP, Southeastern
  
• 27th rounder Joe Mantiply, LHP, Virginia Tech
  
• 28th rounder Scott Sitz, RHP, Florida State
  
• 30th rounder Ryan Beck, LHP, New Mexico State
  
• 31st rounder Brett Huber, RHP, Mississippi
  
• 32nd rounder Tanner Bailey, RHP, Mississippi
  
• 40th rounder Taylor Johnson, 2B, St. Edwards
  

Tigers sign draft picks Corey Knebel, Connor Harrell

Tony Paul  | The Detroit News
June 17, 2013 at 12:38 pm


Detroit — Given one was out of college eligibility and one wasn’t, one was automatic and the other one was not. But the Tigers signed two more top draft picks Monday morning.

Hard-throwing right-hander Corey Knebel, from Texas, and outfielder Connor Harrell, of Vanderbilt, officially are Tigers prospects, after passing physicals in Lakeland, Fla., both told The Detroit News.

Both soon should be off to join the Connecticut Tigers, the organization’s short-season Single A ballclub out of the New York-Penn League.

While the Tigers brass has said Knebel, the closer at Texas, would be a starting candidate, he said they told him recently he would stay focused on relief, which is his heavy preference. The Tigers have told Harrell they see him as a center fielder.

Knebel is coming off his junior season, so he could’ve returned to school. But in a conversation with The News last week, it was clear he was going to sign — especially since he went just after the first round, in the competitive balance round, which was two rounds before he expected to go. Major League Baseball’s slot value at pick No. 39 is $1,433,400. There’s a good chance Knebel got at least that, if not slightly more.

“I definitely was surprised they took me that early,” Knebel said last week, though he added, “I think I was gonna go pro anyway. I really wanted to play pro ball.”

As for Harrell, he decided not to sign with the Tigers after being selected in the 31st round of last summer’s draft.

“I felt like the round that I was drafted in, I felt like I could improve on,” Harrell told The News last week. He also said the talent Vanderbilt had returning for 2013 “was kind of hard to put a price tag on.”

He then went on to have a better senior season (as Vandy made the Super Regionals) so Detroit came calling yet again, but this time in the seventh round. That earned him a nicer payday, though slightly below the slot value, which for the 216th overall pick is $168,700.

Harrell, interestingly, was the only position player Tigers draft chief David Chadd selected in the team’s top 10 picks. The rest, as has been their style, were pitchers.

With Knebel and Harrell signing, the Tigers have at least 11 of their top 16 picks under contract, including No. 1, right-hander Jonathan Crawford of the University of Florida. It’s very possible others could sign Monday, as well.

tpaul@detroitnews.com
www.twitter.com/tonypaul1984

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130617/SPORTS0104/306170088#ixzz2WXPS4dVz

Tigers sign seventh-round pick Harrell

By Jason Beck and Bobby Nightengale / MLB.com | 6/18/2013 7:56 P.M. ET

DETROIT -- The Tigers selected Vanderbilt center fielder Connor Harrell in the 31st round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, but couldn't get him to sign on the dotted line. However, they finally got their target when Harrell agreed to terms with the team on Tuesday after being picked in the seventh round of this year's Draft.

Harrell was the only position player Detroit picked in their first 10 selections. Although he manned center field throughout college, Tigers vice president of amateur scouting David Chadd said the team expects him to learn all three outfield positions and that he won't be an everyday center fielder.

Harrell joins three other players that agreed to terms with the Tigers on Tuesday. The group includes Texas closer Corey Knebel (39th overall), shortstop Steven Negron from Miami Dade Community College (17th round) and right-handed pitcher Chase Edwards from Hill Junior College (24th round).

The team has now signed 23 of their 41 selections and 10 of their first 15 picks from this year's Draft.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. Bobby Nightengale is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

June 20, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Tigers close to getting all top-10 draft picks under contract

   Tony Paul
   The Detroit News

Detroit -- The Tigers are in cruise control in signing their 2013 draft picks.

They appear to be hitting absolutely no snags in getting deals done -- the likely result of David Chadd, the organization’s draft chief, going heavy on college ballplayers over high-schoolers.

Second-round pick Kevin Ziomek, a left-hander from Vanderbilt, and third-rounder Jeff Thompson, a right-hander out of Louisville, should be signed by early next week.

Ziomek was flying to Lakeland on Thursday for his physical, his Vanderbilt teammate, Tigers seventh-rounder Connor Harrell, told The Detroit News. Thompson, getting things in order following Louisville’s elimination from the College World Series this week, told The News he’ll sign Monday following his physical in Lakeland.

Both are juniors planning to forego their senior seasons for a nice payday. Both should receive slot money -- just under $1 million for Ziomek, around $550,000 for Thompson.

“I’m excited. Getting kind of bored just sitting around here,” said Thompson, who’s passed some time playing the “NBA 2K” video game. (He picks the Heat to win tonight.)

A sophomore pitcher also appears ready to leave college for cash. An LSU teammate posted on Twitter he dropped ninth-round pick Will LaMarche off at the airport; the right-hander, too, apparently was heading for Lakeland.

With those three pitchers about to officially join Detroit, that leaves the Tigers waiting on just one top-10 pick -- junior right-hander Austin Kubitza from Rice, a fourth-rounder.

Already signed are right-hander Jonathon Crawford (first round), right-hander Corey Knebel (first), right-hander Buck Farmer (fifth), right-hander Calvin Drummond (sixth), center fielder Harrell (seventh), right-hander Zach Reininger (eighth) and center fielder Kasey Coffman (10th).

Well more than half of the Tigers’ 41 draft picks have signed. The deadline for draft picks to decide whether to go pro or stay in school is 5 p.m. July 12.

Ones that already have signed, meanwhile, are wasting little time getting to work.

Harrell, for instance, on Thursday joined the Single A West Michigan Whitecaps. It’s just his second time ever in Michigan; as a youngster, the family made a trip to Lansing.

“Excited to be here,” Harrell said. “Seems like a nice area.”

tpaul@detroitnews.com

twitter.com/tonypaul1984

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130620/SPORTS0104/306200108#ixzz2X6ut5Jum

Tigers agree with draftees Thompson, Green

By Bobby Nightengale / MLB.com | 6/25/2013 11:25 P.M. ET

DETROIT -- The University of Louisville had one of its best seasons ever, resulting in a school-record 51 wins and a visit to the College World Series. The Tigers agreed to terms with two of its top pitchers -- right-handers Jeffrey Thompson and Chad Green -- on Tuesday.


The Tigers selected Thompson in the third round of the First-Year Player Draft and he signed at slot value ($549,400). Thompson was named the Big East Pitcher of the Year with an 11-2 record, 2.19 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 107 innings.

"The numbers he put up this year -- and they had a good club, Louisville -- but the numbers he put up were phenomenal," Tigers vice president of amateur scouting David Chadd said. "That's kind of what helped us make that decision [to select him]."

Green was picked in the 11th round and had a 10-4 record with a 2.42 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 104 1/3 innings.

The Tigers have now signed their top nine Draft picks and have agreed to terms with 27 of their 41 selections.

Bobby Nightengale is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

The Tigers have agreed to terms with Will LaMarche, Raphael Rhymes and Adrian Castano

By Jim Hawkins / Special to MLB.com | 6/28/2013 8:01 P.M. ET

• The Tigers have agreed to terms with three more selections from this month's Draft: right-handed pitcher Will LaMarche from LSU (ninth round), outfielder Raphael Rhymes from LSU (15th round) and center fielder Adrian Castano from Benjamin Cardozo High School in New York. (26th round). The club has agreed to terms with 30 of its 41 selections.


Jim Hawkins is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.