Hadeen drafted into major leagues by Detroit Tigers

Ryan "Woody" Hadeen has been drafted by the Detroit Tigers. The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit, Mich. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball as a member of the American League Central Division. Hadeen was the 11th pick in in the sixth round of the recent MLB draft.

Hadeen graduated from Temecula Valley High School in Temecula Calif., before signing to play for the UC Irvine Anteaters, a D1 school in Irvine, Calif. While at UCI, Hadeen started and played in 49 games in 2022 and as a freshman in 2021 appeared in 47 games, starting in 10. Despite a setback due to injury last year, Hadeen had a historic season in 2024, earning All-Big West First Team honors while breaking Anteaters single-season records with 76 runs scored and 58 walks, finishing second in conference play with a .407 batting average.

Hadeen is 2024 graduate of UCI with a degree in Sociology. He is the son of Scott and Amy Hadeen, Temecula, and the grandson of Terry and Phyllis Hadeen, Haxtun.

More about Hadeen

from his MLB prospect bio

After a solid, albeit unspectacular sophomore season at UC Irvine, Hadeen headed to the Appalachian League and earned All-Star Game MVP honors in the summer circuit before finishing up with a stint in the Cape Cod League. He wasn't able to carry that over to what should have been his junior year, as a shoulder injury that required surgery shelved him for the season. He's returned with a vengeance this spring, putting up very good numbers for the highly-ranked Anteaters.

A switch-hitting shortstop, Hadeen is all about contact, getting on base and defense. A bit more productive from the right side of the plate, he rarely strikes out and almost never misses a fastball. In addition to his high contact rates, he draws a ton of walks and has been able to use his speed to swipe some bags. How much impact at the plate he'll have at the next level remains to be seen and he hasn't shown much extra-base authority to date, though some think he could grow into a little more strength in his six-foot-two frame.

Hadeen is a solid defender with good hands and instincts at a premium position. That could give him the chance to stick at shortstop, though both his average arm and the questions about offensive impact could point to more of a utility type career in the future. Scouts laud his makeup and grinder mentality, giving teams more confidence he'll maximize the tools he does have as he enters pro ball.