Three months into their grooming of rookie Rick Porcello, the Tigers’ $7.28 million investment looks like money well spent.

Porcello, a right-hander, pitched regularly during October’s instructional league at their Lakeland, Fla., complex, and pitched very well in the view of scouts, including minor league pitching coach Jon Matlack.

Porcello pitched in game situations weekly, about five times total, against Detroit’s top prospects and minor leaguers from Cleveland and Atlanta.

The prevailing view: The Tigers were lucky to get the top-ranked high school pitcher in the nation with June’s 27th overall selection in the draft.

• Tigers’ top pick shines