Tigers take Auburn right-hander Casey Mize with No. 1 draft pick

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Casey Mize went from undrafted three years ago all the way to No. 1.

The Detroit Tigers selected the Auburn right-hander with the first pick in the Major League Baseball draft Monday night. The announcement at MLB Network studios marked the second time the Tigers led off the draft, and first since they took Rice pitcher Matt Anderson in 1997.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Mize had long been linked to the Tigers, and he pitched his way this season to the top spot on the board. Mize wasn’t chosen by any organization out of high school three years ago, but developed into a potential big league ace while in college.

With the second selection, San Francisco took slugging Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart, the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year.

Wichita State third baseman Alec Bohm was the first of six players attending the draft to be selected, going third overall to Philadelphia.

Oregon State second baseman Nick Madrigal — at 5-foot-7, 160 pounds — went fourth to the Chicago White Sox.

Rounding out the top five was Cincinnati, which took Florida third baseman Jonathan India.

Oakland created a major buzz at No. 9 and shook up some draft boards by tabbing speedy Oklahoma outfielder — and quarterback — Kyler Murray, the favorite to replace Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield this season as the Sooners’ starter on the football field.

The Mets took the first high school player, selecting Wisconsin prep outfielder Jarred Kelenic sixth overall. The lefthanded-hitting Kelenic was the MVP of the Team USA Under18 squad last September at the Pan American Games in Canada while batting .404 and leading the team in extra-base hits.