After drafting Vanderbilt outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. within the first spherical of the MLB draft Sunday night time, Orioles government vp and basic supervisor Mike Elias detailed the boldness he has within the group’s scouting of school gamers.
“We pour a ton of data analysis resources into college statistics and college data,” Elias stated, “so anytime we can take an elite college player, we feel good about the work that’s gone into that.”
But Bradfield was just the start of the Orioles’ run on faculty gamers. Each of Baltimore’s first 10 picks have been faculty gamers, together with North Carolina outfielder-third baseman Mac Horvath and Florida State right-hander Jackson Baumeister on Day 1 and 7 extra on Day 2.
Baumeister’s choice was considerably of a shock contemplating the Elias regime’s desire to choose place gamers early in drafts. At No. 63 general, Baumeister turned the primary pitcher Baltimore has drafted inside the first three rounds since Elias took over in November 2018. The Orioles drafted 5 extra faculty pitches on Day 2.
With the three faculty gamers on Day 1, Orioles director of draft operations Brad Ciolek stated he was “ecstatic” about how the start of the draft went. They took three extra faculty gamers to open Day 2.
Here’s a breakdown of Baltimore’s picks from the second day of the MLB draft.
Round 3 (86th general): Washington right-hander Kiefer Lord
Skinny: Slightly greater than a 12 months in the past, Lord was a Division III pitcher for Carleton College in Minnesota. He transferred to Division I Washington for his junior season, incomes a popularity as a hard-throwing righty with upside. With the Huskies, Lord went 6-5 with a 6.19 ERA and 1.316 WHIP, however he struck out 78 batters in 75 2/3 innings versus simply 17 walks. Lord, 21, joins Baumeister as the one two pitchers the Orioles have chosen within the first three rounds since Elias’ first draft in 2019. Baseball America ranked Lord because the 97th-best prospect within the draft pool.
Recommended bonus slot: $808,200
Round 3 (one centesimal general): Arkansas outfielder Tavian Josenberger
Skinny: When the Orioles drafted pitcher Nolan McLean within the fourth spherical of the 2022 draft, that was the very best Elias had chosen a pitcher. However, Baltimore and McLean couldn’t come to an settlement after the draft, and the compensatory choose the Orioles acquired because of this was used to draft Josenberger. The 21-year-old performed his first two faculty seasons at Kansas earlier than transferring to Arkansas for the 2023 marketing campaign. While he had success with the Jayhawks, Josenberger, who performed each outfield and second base in his faculty profession, had his greatest season with the Razorbacks, slashing .287/.414/.490 — good for a .904 OPS. He turns into the second Arkansas participant to be drafted by the Orioles prior to now 4 years, becoming a member of 2020′s No. 2 general choose Heston Kjerstad, who has zoomed by means of the minors over the previous 12 months and is now in Triple-A. Baseball America ranked Josenberger because the 246th-best prospect within the draft pool.
Recommended bonus slot: $671,800
Round 4 (118th general): Texas State right-hander Levi Wells
Skinny: As a freshman at Texas Tech, Wells walked 23 batters in 17 2/3 innings as a reliever. The 6-foot-2 righty transferred to Texas State and immediately discovered his command as a starter, reducing his stroll price from 25% in 2021 to eight.4% between in 2022 and 2023. After posting a 3.07 ERA as a sophomore, he recorded a 5.02 mark this spring, however he improved his strikeout price, punching out 98 batters in 80 2/3 innings. Wells, 21, was ranked by Baseball America because the 111th-best prospect within the draft pool.
Recommended bonus slot: $563,600
Round 5 (154th general): UNC Charlotte outfielder Jake Cunningham
Skinny: After struggling as an 18-year-old freshman in 2021, Cunningham emerged as one among Conference USA’s high sluggers the previous two seasons. In 2022, the middle fielder hit 16 residence runs, stole 16 bases and posted a whopping 1.005 OPS. Cunningham, who turned 21 final week, hit 11 lengthy balls with an .878 OPS as a junior in 2023. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound outfielder was ranked by Baseball America because the One hundred and fortieth-best prospect within the draft pool.
Recommended bonus slot: $396,700
Round 6 (181st general): Samford right-hander Jacob Cravey
Skinny: Cravey was one among 12 Division I pitchers to throw greater than 100 innings this spring, and the 6-foot-6 righty struck out extra batters than all however eight pitchers. In 104 2/3 innings, Cravey struck out 126 batters whereas strolling 40 and posting a 3.10 ERA and a 9-2 file. Baseball America ranked the 21-year-old because the 321st-best prospect within the draft pool.
Recommended bonus slot: $312,300
Round 7 (211th general): Coastal Carolina right-hander Teddy Sharkey
Skinny: His distinctive identify isn’t what intrigued the Orioles, however as a substitute his plus stuff out of the bullpen. With a fastball that touches 98 mph, Sharkey was a dominant reliever for the Chanticleers this spring. In 49 2/3 innings throughout 27 appearances, the 6-foot righty went 7-2 with 11 saves and a 2.90 ERA. Sharkey, 21, bounced again from a poor 2022 to strike out 35.7% of the batters he confronted. Baseball America ranked Sharkey because the 395th-best prospect within the draft pool.
Recommended bonus slot: $244,400
Round 8 (241st general): Dallas Baptist right-hander Braxton Bragg
Skinny: Bragg largely struggled throughout his three seasons as a reliever at Nebraska, the place he was teammates with Orioles farmhand Cade Povich, however he broke out in 2023 as a starter after transferring to Dallas Baptist. The 6-foot-2 righty went 9-2 for the Conference USA college with a 4.19 ERA. In 86 innings, Bragg struck out 92 batters and walked simply 17. He was unranked on Baseball America’s draft prospect checklist. With his choice, the Orioles have taken extra pitchers (six) than place gamers (4) by means of their first 10 picks.
Recommended bonus slot: $197,800
Other notable picks
Maryland star Matt Shaw was drafted within the first spherical Sunday, however two different Terps have been chosen on Day 2.
Catcher Luke Shliger was chosen No. 180 general within the sixth spherical by the San Francisco Giants. In every of the previous two seasons, Shliger hit over .333 with an OPS above 1.000. Right-hander Jason Savacool, one of many Terps’ high beginning pitchers the previous three years, was taken 5 picks later by the St. Louis Cardinals after going 24-11 with a 4.20 ERA in 278 2/3 profession innings at Maryland.
However, Maryland wasn’t the one native faculty with a participant drafted on Day 2. Towson right-hander Ethan Pecko was drafted No. 194 general with the ultimate choose of the sixth spherical by the Houston Astros. Pecko posted a 3.21 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 42 innings with the Tigers this spring.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com