Detroit Tigers Draft RHP Cameron Flukey 22nd in 2026 MLB Draft
Will he be the next Justin Verlander? The next Tarik Skubal? Will the Detroit Tigers develop another ace, only to watch him win a World Series somewhere else?
The sky’s the limit for Detroit Tigers first-round pick, No. 22 overall in the 2026 MLB Draft, RHP Cameron Flukey out of Coastal Carolina.
Those are massive shoes to fill when you’re comparing him to two of the greatest pitchers in Tigers history. But could his career look more like Casey Mize’s? Mize has posted a 3.98 career ERA after being selected No. 1 overall. That’s a solid benchmark for any first-round pick, and I believe Flukey has the talent to move quickly through the minor leagues and help this Tigers team win games within the next couple of seasons.
Why was he a first-round pick?
After posting a 3.19 ERA over 101.2 innings in 2025, Flukey struck out 118 batters while walking just 24. He capped off the season with a dominant College World Series start against LSU, allowing one run while striking out nine over six innings. He entered the 2026 season as a consensus top-five college arm in the draft.
His fastball averages 96 mph and touches 98. Pair that with a quality curveball and slider, and it’s easy to see why scouts were so high on him.
Why did he slide to No. 22?
Flukey suffered a rib injury before his junior season that caused him to miss significant time. By the time he returned, he threw just 24 innings and posted a 4.13 ERA.
While the injury hurt his draft stock, it also became a valuable learning experience. Flukey said it forced him to grow mentally, spending more time preparing and game-planning when he couldn’t be on the mound. He now considers the mental side of pitching one of the biggest strengths of his game.
One of the biggest areas he wants to improve is adding strength.
“I think I have 20 more pounds to put on, and it could help me throw harder—pretty much make everything I throw better.”
That’s exciting to hear from a young pitcher who already possesses an electric arm. What comes with electricity… comes responsibility (my electrician friend Maxwell said that one time… I think).
That fastball will play throughout the minor leagues, but with that comes the responsibility to develop a quality changeup or another pitch with a similar release point to his fastball. If he can do that while continuing to sharpen his breaking pitches, he’ll have a chance to reach his full potential as a top-of-the-rotation arm.
When asked which current Tiger he’s most excited to hopefully play alongside one day, his answer was Tarik Skubal.
THE VERDICT
All jokes aside about becoming the next Tigers ace—or the next ace to eventually get traded—I believe this is a quality pick for an organization that desperately needed a true No. 1 pitching prospect in its farm system.
The Author
Nicholas Kohloff
Detroit Tigers Beat Reporter | Woodward Sports
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