Just when you thought the Detroit Tigers and General Manager Al Avila couldn’t get anymore polarizing with its fan base, just take a look at the fan reactions to last night’s first round of the 2021 MLB Draft. The Tigers had two picks in the first round at #3 and #32 overall, and when the Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers respectively passed on what many experts and insiders thought was the #1 overall player in California high schooler Marcelo Mayer (SS), Avila and the Tigers stuck to their draft guns and went with pitching in selecting Jackson Jobe out of Heritage Hall High School in Oklahoma. Below is the quick breakdown of what Jobe brings to the table:
Jackson can ball. ? pic.twitter.com/FsjcuLwLAW
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 12, 2021
Got our guy! pic.twitter.com/XOqMSnGLAr
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 12, 2021
Jackson Jobe on going to the Tigers: “I was just as surprised as everybody else. It’s been a long few days trying to figure out how everything was gonna land. The second they called my name is when I knew.”
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) July 12, 2021
Scott Pleis: “I think for us it was a pretty easy pick. We always end up taking the best player on the board with the best ability and the most upside.”
Asked what separated Jobe from a player such as Mayer, Pleis said Jobe’s “total package” as a pitcher https://t.co/dJnRiGrZcK
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) July 12, 2021
Before the night was over, the Tigers had another first round selection to make and kept loading up on the arms in taking Ty Madden out of the University of Texas. Here’s what people were saying about the 21-year-old:
With the 32nd pick in the 2021 #MLBDraft, the Detroit Tigers select RHP Ty Madden from the University of Texas. pic.twitter.com/1O9ip8bPYQ
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 12, 2021
32. Tigers: Ty Madden, RHP, Texas. This’ll be an overpay, Madden was in play in the top 10 overall. FB up to 98-99 mph, slider is plus pitch that misses bats, big performance for Omaha club, good value for sure. #PGDraft
— Brian Sakowski (@B_Sakowski_PG) July 12, 2021
Ty Madden has a mid-90s fastball, a good slider and decent change. 6-3 frame. Command with be something to watch.
Madden ranked No. 9 on MLB Pipeline, No. 23 on The Athletic’s draft board. https://t.co/EDHpP99Vjp
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) July 12, 2021
Here’s where some notable baseball experts had Jobe and Madden ranked overall:
Ranking are just rankings, but:
Baseball America: Jobe (#8), Madden (#12)
FanGraphs: Jobe (#8), Madden (#12)
MLB Pipeline: Jobe (#7), Madden (#9)
— Chris Brown (@ChrisBrown0914) July 12, 2021
Lastly, maybe this is why the Tigers took Jobe at #3 overall….that bat flip though….
This is (probably) the moment the Tigers decided they needed Jackson Jobe in their organization. pic.twitter.com/sYcmdIGhyU
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) July 11, 2021
