Could the Tigers’ 11th-Round Pick Be Their Biggest Steal?

Do the Detroit Tigers already have the next Kevin McGonigle waiting in the wings?

That might be a lofty comparison, but the Tigers organization is reportedly high on one of its newest additions: Will Adams, an 11th-round selection in the 2026 MLB Draft.

Selected 336th overall out of Hoover High School in Alabama, Adams is already turning heads within the organization. The young left-handed hitter, who also throws left-handed, was drafted as a first baseman and outfielder and is said to possess one of the purest swings in his draft class.

Despite being drafted just a couple of months ago, Adams is already generating some intriguing buzz. Could Detroit have found a hidden gem late in the draft?

If you're reading this and thinking Adams could be in the Tigers' lineup as soon as next season, you're looking at the wrong timeline. He will likely spend the next few years working his way through the minor leagues before getting a legitimate opportunity in Detroit.

Of course, if Adams continues to develop and consistently produce at the plate, he could move through the system faster than expected. However, with the depth of talent in Detroit's farm system, there is little reason for the organization to rush him before he is ready.

Still, as the Tigers have shown with prospects such as McGonigle and Max Clark, player development doesn't always follow a predictable timeline. If Adams proves himself at every level, Detroit could eventually have a difficult decision to make.

According to a social media post from Totally Tigers, Adams has drawn comparisons to McGonigle, whom Detroit selected in the 2023 MLB Draft. The post described Adams as a potential "hidden gem" and "a steal," adding that some believe he could be the best hitter in the Tigers' 2026 draft class. It also reported that Detroit convinced him to sign professionally rather than pursue college baseball.

Those claims should be taken with a grain of salt until more information emerges directly from the organization. Nevertheless, the early buzz surrounding Adams gives Tigers fans another young player to watch as they look toward the future.

There hasn't been much for Detroit fans to celebrate lately, particularly as they watch former Tigers make their mark in the postseason. That includes two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, who recently took the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

Adams, meanwhile, is beginning his own journey in Detroit's rookie-level system. By signing with the Tigers instead of heading to college, he has an opportunity to develop within the organization and begin climbing the minor-league ladder.

As much as I'd love to see college baseball continue growing the way college hockey has begun to, with football and basketball already established as major college sports, it's hard to argue against the benefits of having a promising young hitter develop directly within the Tigers' system.

Adams may have a smooth swing and the kind of power that gets scouts excited, but potential alone doesn't guarantee success in professional baseball. He still has plenty of development ahead of him, and Tigers fans will need to be patient.

However, if the early reports prove accurate, Detroit may have found a valuable piece of its future with the 336th pick.

It is far too early to call Adams the next McGonigle, let alone the biggest steal of the draft. But if he continues to develop as hoped, the Tigers could eventually reap the rewards of a late-round selection who turns out to be much more than meets the eye.