Orioles draft preview

In a season that seems to be lost for the Baltimore Orioles, a bright spot comes into view, as the team has the No. 1 pick in tonight’s 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

There are a few candidates that GM Mike Elias has his eye on going into the draft. Which young prospect will the club choose? Here are the players on the Orioles’ radar for tonight’s draft!

Adley Rutschman- C Oregon State

The most obvious choice for the Orioles’ pick, Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman is the best and most touted No. 1 overall player since Bryce Harper in 2010.

After coming off his best season of his early baseball career, the switch-hitting Rutschman slashed .418/.580/.764 in 56 games with the Beavers.

Rutschman is said to be better than some of Major League Baseball’s premier catchers. He is said surpass Buster Posey, Joe Mauer, and even former Oriole catcher Matt Wieters.

With Rutschman being 21 years old, he is likely to advance through the minors fairly quickly, and he might be seen in the majors as early as two years from now.

Bobby Witt Jr.- SS Colleyville High School TEX

Son of former major league pitcher Bobby Witt Sr., Bobby Witt Jr. is said to be a five-tool shortstop heading into the draft.

In his senior year, Witt Jr. put up fantastic numbers, hitting .496/.573/1.093 in 39 games played.

Witt Jr. is the said to be the best shortstop prospect since Alex Rodriguez in 1993.

Andrew Vaughn- 1B California

Scouted as the best pure hitter in this year’s draft, Andrew Vaughn is said to go quite early.

Vaughn tore the cover off the ball this past season, hitting an impressive .381/.544/.716 in 52 games.

Vaughn is known for his effortless power, and he will no doubt be in the top five picks tonight. The only issues are his defensive capabilities, but that will not stop a team from snagging him off the board.

Do not miss the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft tonight at 6:00 p.m. only on MLB Network!