Detroit Tigers Pick Seton Hall Prep Star Rick Porcello in MLB Draft

The Detroit Tigers are the American League Champions of last year. Rick Porcello enters his next game on June 8th with a 9-0 record. He also sports an amazing 1.22 ERA. He had high hopes about being picked in the draft early, but got a large surprise.

The MLB Draft is very important, especially for teams who are looking for top prospects that are hopefully franchise changing, but for Rick Porcello, it was the chance of pitching in front of millions of people worldwide. He is one of the largest key players in the USA and is a top pitcher in New Jersey. Seton Hall Prep is ranked number 1 in the state, which is a huge accomplishment in itself, but Rick Porcello has a lot on his mind right now as he ends his final season with the Prep.

Porcello is an amazing athlete as he throws his fastball at around 95 miles-per-hour. A kid that young who is throwing that speed on average is just amazing. While you may see many pitchers throwing in the mid 90's, not many can throw it accurately. Remember that Porcello sports a great 1.22 ERA, along with his perfect 9-0 record this year. The Detroit Tigers are receiving an amazing athlete, provided that they actually get him next year of course. Scott Boras, who is Porcello's agent, caused him to drop far down in the draft due to "signability" issues. There is no guarantee now that he will even play for the Tigers next season, but even though that is the case, he will go to the MLB.

There is speculation to whether or not Porcello will go to college to pitch. If he does, his choice is the University of North Carolina. Come the August 15th deadline, he will have made his choice, but Boras will be a huge part of that decision. If it wasn't for "signability" issues, Porcello probably would have been drafted much higher, probably second or third, which would have put him in Kansas City most likely.

The Detroit Tigers have had a great history with tough signs, having picked Justin Verlander, Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller in the first round of the draft last year. Whatever happens happens, that's just the way it is, but if Porcello does go into the MLB, even though it is one heck of a jump, I believe he will do just fine.