Tigers projected to take exciting high school bat in early 2026 mock draft

Jared Bloom

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Tigers projected to take exciting high school bat in early 2026 mock draft image

Earlier this week, teams learned their positions for the upcoming 2026 MLB Draft. The Chicago White Sox were awarded the first overall pick after having the highest odds. 

Following the White Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays will draft second, and the Minnesota Twins will draft third. Rounding out the top five are the San Francisco Giants and the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

The Detroit Tigers have received the 22nd pick. Despite being a low pick, there will certainly be some great talent to choose from between the high schoolers and college kids. 

Tigers projected to take exciting high school bat in early 2026 mock draft

Like any other draft, the talent pool will be divided between high school and college talent. Some teams prefer selecting one over the other, and recently, Detroit has preferred high school talent. 

With this in mind, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter believes Jackson Prep's Kevin Roberts Jr. Could be a good fit. 

"With an athletic 6'5", 215-pound frame and elite bat speed, Roberts has one of the highest offensive ceilings in the draft, but he might also be the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the 2026 class. He struggled against high-level competition on the showcase circuit and has an unrefined approach, but if everything clicks, the end result could be a 30/30 center fielder."

While there are some questions, Roberts could be one of the best offensive players in this class. However, he still has to work on some things. 

While he is viewed as a future outfielder at the next level, he also has the ability to play shortstop. 

Some scouts believe there is still some growing to be done, despite the big frame. If the draft does not work out how he hopes, expect Roberts to play for the University of Florida, where he committed back in April.

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Contributing Writer