Joy R. Absalon/MLB.com
This post will focus on notable Orioles draft picks. Of course drafting is by no means an exact science. It is easy to say “oh they should have drafted this guy instead of this guy” after the fact. I will start the post off with maybe the biggest flop in Orioles drafting history.
Billy Rowell– Rowell was taken ninth overall in the 2006 draft, and The Orioles gave him a $2.1 million bonus. In 1,966 at bats, the supposed power hitter, was only able to get 40 home runs in the minors. Then when the Orioles tried to move him to pitcher in 2012 Rowell hade arm soreness that sent him home, never to return. To make things worse, the next two players selected in the draft were Tim Lincecum and Max Scherzer.
Pedro Beato– Beato was a supplemental pick (32) in the same draft as Rowell. Beato was once rated the 99th best prospect in baseball. Beato was taken in the rule 5 draft by the New York Mets in 2010. Beato had a good start going 18 2/3 innings without giving up a run. Beato now plays for the Braves, and owns a career 4-2 record with a 4.47 era.
Brandon Snyder– Synder was the 13th overall pick in the 2005 draft. This was a stacked daft year with just about every player before Snyder to be solid players like, Andrew McCutchen, Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun, to name a few. Orioles weren’t so lucky, they ended up trading Snyder to Texas for cash. Snyder is now in the Red Sox organization.
Mike Fontenot– was taken at number 19 in the 2001 draft as a supplemental pick for Mike Mussina. Fontenot was traded along with Jerry Hariston Jr. for Sammy Sosa. As a kid i thought this was the greatest thing ever, but now i look back and say WHAT WHERE THEY THINKING!! Fontenot is a career .265 hitter in 582 games. Fontenot has spent the last two seasons in the Rays organization. David Wright was taken at 38th overall in this draft.
Russell Wilson– Yes the Orioles drafted that Russell Wilson. They took him 1222nd overall in 2007 out of high school, but obviously he did not sign with the team.
I don’t want you to be too upset after reading this so I will leave you with this. Cal Ripken was selected 48th overall in the 1978 draft. To make it even better, the Yankees had 3 chances to draft Ripken. Also, the Orioles have struck gold in the 11th round. They drafted Al Bumbry, Jerry Hairston Jr., Billy Ripken, Terry Crowley, Mike Mussina, and Michael Ohlman (a 23 year old catching prospect.)
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