TRAVERSE CITY - There were plenty of names being tossed around - including the younger brothers of a pair of major league regulars - but in the end the Detroit Tigers selected a pitcher they decided they just couldn't live without.
With the second selection in Monday's baseball amateur draft, the Tigers chose Justin Verlander, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-hander out of Old Dominion who scouts say already possesses three major-league caliber pitches.
"Justin throws 92-98 (miles per hour) on his fastball with good life. He's got a curveball that can be a definite out pitch and a changeup that serves as a nice complement," said Tigers Director of Scouting Greg Smith in a conference call Monday night. "He's a big, durable guy with a tremendous upside.
"The benefit of picking up top is we had an opportunity to watch everybody this spring," Smith said. "Justin was obviously a guy who was on our radar, and as we got closer and closer (to the draft) we kept coming back to him."
Verlander, 21, posted a 7-6 record with a 3.49 ERA in 105¦ innings as a junior this spring, setting a school record with 151 strikeouts. He allowed 90 hits and 43 walks.
"This has been an unbelievable experience," Verlander said. "Every little kid wants to play professional baseball.
"The last few weeks have seemed like years for me. I've had so much free time since our season ended - just waiting."
Verlander, a native of Hadensville, Va., finished with a 21-18 record and 2.57 ERA in three seasons at Old Dominion. He struck out 427 batters in his career while allowing 267 hits and issuing 126 walks.
Of Verlander's relatively low .538 winning percentage, Smith said: "With all due respect to Justin's teammates, there were times when it was tough for him."
Verlander struggled with his consistency and control early in the season, but Smith said the Tigers believe that won't be an issue once he begins working with their coaching staff.
"I think the walks are overblown," Smith said.
So does Verlander.
"At the beginning of the season, I had some problems with my consistency, and I walked a few more guys than I would have liked," he said. "But I felt like I was able to turn that around, and I don't think it will be a big concern."
The Tigers passed on Long Beach State right-hander Jered Weaver, brother of former Tigers pitcher Jeff Weaver, who was selected No. 12 by Anaheim; and Florida State shortstop Stephen Drew, brother of the Braves outfielder J.D. Drew, who went 15th to Arizona.
Despite a need for position players throughout their organization, the Tigers selected pitchers in six of the first eight rounds.
Detroit chose a pitcher with its No. 1 pick for the 12th time in the last 14 years.
"One of the things Dave (Dombrowski, Tigers president and general manager) and I talked about was, the strength of this draft was pitching," Smith said. "It's a lot easier to acquire an everyday player than quality arms at this level.
"What it came down to was, we took the guy we wanted."
Verlander was an All-Colonial Athletic Association selection and is one of 10 finalists for the Roger Clemens Award as the nation's top college pitcher.
He saw action with Team USA during the summer of 2003, finishing 5-1 with a 1.29 ERA to help lead the club to the silver medal at the Pan American Games.
Neither Smith nor Verlander was willing to place a time table on the pitcher's rise to the majors, despite scouts' predictions that Verlander could make the jump as soon as 2005 or '06.
"It really depends on how hard I work," Verlander said.
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With the second selection in Monday's baseball amateur draft, the Tigers chose Justin Verlander, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-hander out of Old Dominion who scouts say already possesses three major-league caliber pitches.
"Justin throws 92-98 (miles per hour) on his fastball with good life. He's got a curveball that can be a definite out pitch and a changeup that serves as a nice complement," said Tigers Director of Scouting Greg Smith in a conference call Monday night. "He's a big, durable guy with a tremendous upside.
"The benefit of picking up top is we had an opportunity to watch everybody this spring," Smith said. "Justin was obviously a guy who was on our radar, and as we got closer and closer (to the draft) we kept coming back to him."
Verlander, 21, posted a 7-6 record with a 3.49 ERA in 105¦ innings as a junior this spring, setting a school record with 151 strikeouts. He allowed 90 hits and 43 walks.
"This has been an unbelievable experience," Verlander said. "Every little kid wants to play professional baseball.
"The last few weeks have seemed like years for me. I've had so much free time since our season ended - just waiting."
Verlander, a native of Hadensville, Va., finished with a 21-18 record and 2.57 ERA in three seasons at Old Dominion. He struck out 427 batters in his career while allowing 267 hits and issuing 126 walks.
Of Verlander's relatively low .538 winning percentage, Smith said: "With all due respect to Justin's teammates, there were times when it was tough for him."
Verlander struggled with his consistency and control early in the season, but Smith said the Tigers believe that won't be an issue once he begins working with their coaching staff.
"I think the walks are overblown," Smith said.
So does Verlander.
"At the beginning of the season, I had some problems with my consistency, and I walked a few more guys than I would have liked," he said. "But I felt like I was able to turn that around, and I don't think it will be a big concern."
The Tigers passed on Long Beach State right-hander Jered Weaver, brother of former Tigers pitcher Jeff Weaver, who was selected No. 12 by Anaheim; and Florida State shortstop Stephen Drew, brother of the Braves outfielder J.D. Drew, who went 15th to Arizona.
Despite a need for position players throughout their organization, the Tigers selected pitchers in six of the first eight rounds.
Detroit chose a pitcher with its No. 1 pick for the 12th time in the last 14 years.
"One of the things Dave (Dombrowski, Tigers president and general manager) and I talked about was, the strength of this draft was pitching," Smith said. "It's a lot easier to acquire an everyday player than quality arms at this level.
"What it came down to was, we took the guy we wanted."
Verlander was an All-Colonial Athletic Association selection and is one of 10 finalists for the Roger Clemens Award as the nation's top college pitcher.
He saw action with Team USA during the summer of 2003, finishing 5-1 with a 1.29 ERA to help lead the club to the silver medal at the Pan American Games.
Neither Smith nor Verlander was willing to place a time table on the pitcher's rise to the majors, despite scouts' predictions that Verlander could make the jump as soon as 2005 or '06.
"It really depends on how hard I work," Verlander said.
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