The Detroit Tigers have a proven draft strategy that they put to the test with some surprising selections in the MLB draft.

The Detroit Tigers are pushing in all their chips on a high-upside pitching prospect in the 11th round of the MLB Draft. It may be a stroke of genius — or not.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Jordan Yost and catcher Michael Oliveto — both selected in the 2025 MLB Draft — are left-handed hitters from the prep ranks.

With their appetite for prep hitters becoming a draft-night trademark, the Tigers struck again Sunday, snagging shortstop Jordan Yost with their first pick (No. 24 overall) in the 2025 MLB Draft.

Yost only weighed about 115 pounds as a freshman at Sickles High School in Tampa, Florida. His physical tools as a baseball player took a bit longer to develop, so it resulted in Yost having an emphasis on his technique and his discipline at the plate. It’s what attracted the Tigers to select the now 6-foot, 170-pound shortstop.