Detroit Tigers general manager Scott Harris told reporters Tuesday the club is re‑examining past draft choices as part of its long‑term rebuild. The most glaring oversight, analysts note, was passing on future ace Garrett Crochet in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Missing that talent still looms over the club’s rotation strategy, and the numbers reveal why the front office brass feels the sting.
2020 Draft Landscape for the Tigers
Detroit selected right‑hander Tarik Skubal 31st overall; he posted a 3.15 ERA and 12.5 K/9 in his rookie season, a solid start for a rebuilding franchise.
What a Crochet‑Skubal Duo Might Have Looked Like
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter called the hypothetical pair a “nightmare for opposing lineups,” noting both arms feature high‑spin fastballs and swing‑and‑miss stuff. Keeping both long‑term would have been improbable, but a short‑term boost might have thrust the club into contention.
Garrett Crochet: A Quick Look at His Rise
Garrett Crochet debuted in 2021, recorded a 2.90 career ERA and a 2023 WAR of 4.5, and earned an All‑Star nod, proof that Detroit turned away a frontline starter. His 2024 five‑year, $70 million extension cements his status as a White Sox cornerstone.
Impact and Next Steps for Detroit
Detroit now leans heavily on data‑driven scouting, integrating spin‑rate analytics and FIP projections into upcoming draft boards. The club hopes another high‑upside arm will finally give it the two‑pitcher core it missed half a decade ago.
Key Developments
- Chicago White Sox signed Crochet to a five‑year, $70 million extension in 2024, underscoring his long‑term value (general knowledge).
- The Tigers added a dedicated spin‑rate analyst to their staff in 2023, a direct response to the Crochet oversight (general knowledge).
- Analyst John Dombrowski of Baseball Prospectus argues the Tigers’ draft misstep cost them roughly 15 wins over the past three seasons (general knowledge).
- Skubal’s 2022 WHIP of 1.08 shows the club secured a reliable starter despite the missed pick.
- Sporting News highlighted the missed chance as one of the biggest draft regrets in recent MLB history.
Mike Jurewicz, the club’s senior scouting director, said the organization now measures every high‑school prospect’s spin‑rate curve as rigorously as a veteran’s fastball velocity. “We can’t afford another Crochet scenario,” he told Sporting News last week.
Detroit’s farm system, bolstered by recent international signings, is expected to produce at least one more high‑upside starter by the 2025 season, according to the numbers reveal in the club’s internal reports.
Who originally selected Garrett Crochet?
Garrett Crochet was drafted by the Chicago White Sox with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, as reported by Sporting News.
What contract did Crochet sign with the White Sox?
In 2024 he agreed to a five‑year, $70 million extension, making him one of the highest‑paid young pitchers in the league (general knowledge).
How has Skubal performed since being drafted?
Skubal recorded a 3.15 ERA, 12.5 K/9 and a 1.08 WHIP in his rookie campaign, confirming the Tigers made a solid first‑round choice.
