Kyle Funkhouser

The Tigers' 2015 MLB Draft is going to be defined by two factors. They stretched a bit, in my opinion, by taking Beau Burrows, a high school pitcher from Texas, a shorter (6-0) right-hander, who throws hard (mid 90s) at 22nd overall. With the next pick, Nick Plummer, the outfielder from Birmingham Brother Rice High School, was chosen by St. Louis. He was expected to go within the top dozen selections. If  the rare, these days, first-round worthy local product takes off, and Burrows doesn't, it will come back to haunt the Tigers badly.
There was a time when organizations were hesitant to take short right-handers in the first round, but it's changed because of the success Greg Kimbrel and Greg Holland, hard-throwing right-handers who aren't tall, are having as closers, It's why you hearing about Burrows being projected as a reliever.
I followed the progress of Kyle Funkhouser, a right-hander from Louisville, closely this spring. I can't believe he lasted until 35th overall, taken by the Dodgers, one pick after the Tigers selected Tennessee outfielder Christin Stewart, who was a very good college player, but is lacking one standout tool, at least according to the draft experts. Stewart was projected as a late second- or third-round pick. The Tigers weren't the only organization to move Funkhouser down their board (I thought he'd go in the top dozen picks). But it was also two premier organizations that snapped up Plummer and Funkhouser, a pick after the Tigers each time. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

My column. Timing may not be right for Jim Harbaugh to have immediate success at Michigan: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150606/pat-caputo-timing-may-not-be-right-for-jim-harbaugh-to-have-immediate-impact-at-Michigan

My column. Stanley Cup, NBA finals examples of what should be for the Red Wings and Pistons: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150607/pat-caputo-stanley-cup-nba-finals-reminder-of-what-should-be-for-detroit-red-wings-and-pistons