Tigers select RHP Malachi Witherspoon, twin brother of Red Sox first-rounder with No. 62 overall
The Detroit Tigers selected right-handed pitcher Malachi Witherspoon with the No. 62 pick in the second round out of the University of Oklahoma on Sunday.
Witherspoon is the twin brother of Kyson Witherspoon, the Red Sox first-round draft pick on Sunday.
Malachi was initially drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2022 MLB Draft but opted to go to the University of Oklahoma.
The 6-foot-3, 211-pounder features a 99 mph fastball but has struggled with his command in the zone, according to scouts. While pitching for the Sooners, his fastball was hit hard; meanwhile, he saw more success with his curveball.
Witherspoon spent two years at Oklahoma and went 6-10 while recording a 5.23 ERA with 119 strikeouts to 42 walks in 96 1/3 innings (35 games).
MLB Pipeline ranked Witherspoon as the No. 121 prospect heading into the draft, and they believe a team can help “add polish to his overpowering stuff.”
“Though Witherspoon parks at 95-97 mph and peaks at 99 with his fastball, it lacks life and gets pounded because he doesn't locate it well,” according to his MLB Pipeline scouting report. “His most effective pitch is a low-80s curveball with depth, though scouts believe his tighter slider in the upper 80s will be his best option in the long run. He can throw a decent upper-80s changeup with fade but doesn't have much faith in it.
“Witherspoon adds deception to his power stuff with his low three-quarters arm slot, flat approach angle, and quality extension. But working exclusively out of the stretch still leaves him with fringy control and below-average command because he doesn't repeat his mechanics. He'll probably get the opportunity to start at the next level, but he'll need to remake his fastball shape and may be a reliever in the long run.”
The No. 62 pick comes with a recommended bonus slot value of $1,451,200, though teams can exceed that to sign picks as long as they do not exceed their total bonus pool.
Zach McCambley is not taking anything for granted while impressing out of the Jumbo Shrimp bullpen
During the 2025 campaign, the Miami Marlins have been a pleasant surprise. With the All-Star Game less than a week away, they are only eight games under .500, thanks to their talented core. More help is waiting in the minors in the form of reliever Zach McCambley