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The Detroit Tigers selected right-handed pitcher Beau Burrows with the No. 22 overall pick in tonight's Major League Baseball amateur player draft, their first of three selections among the top 75 picks of the draft. Burrows, a 6'1" righthander from Weatherford High School in Texas, was the No. 30 ranked prospect by MLB.com prior to tonight's draft.
Burrows has one of the more electric arms in the draft, sitting in the mid-90s with his fastball. A Texas A&M commit, Burrows also has a solid curveball and developing changeup. He doesn't have the prototypical big body of your typical frontline starter -- particularly compared to his Texas brethren -- but he gets plenty out of his sturdy frame.
The Burrows selection is a bit of a surprise given the plethora of college arms still available, but there could be more at play with this pick than expected. With two more picks left tonight, the Tigers may be hoping to save some slot money for their next selection at No. 34 overall.
MLB.com offered up a more in-depth profile on Burrows.
Outside of Justin Hooper, Burrows threw consistently harder than any other pitcher on the high school showcase circuit during the summer. He came out averaging 94 mph and peaking at 96 mph at the Perfect Game National in June and was still firing 94-95 mph bullets at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship four months later. He has shown the same velocity this spring.
Burrows lacks prototypical size at 6-foot-1, but he generates his velocity with a quick arm and works down in the strike zone thanks to his high three-quarters arm slot. His delivery also helps him stay on top of his power curveball, which can be a plus pitch. His changeup has its moments as well.
Previous first round picks
2014: Derek Hill
2013: Jonathon Crawford
2013: Corey Knebel
2010: Nick Castellanos*
2010: Chance Ruffin*
2009: Jacob Turner
2008: Ryan Perry
2007: Rick Porcello
2007: Brandon Hamilton*
2006: Andrew Miller
*Supplemental round picks