Orioles Add High-Upside Arm in Third Round, Select Kansas Right-Hander Dominic Voegele No. 82 Overall
Orioles Add High-Upside Arm in Third Round, Select Kansas Right-Hander Dominic Voegele No. 82 Overall
The Baltimore Orioles continued their focus on pitching during the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday, selecting University of Kansas right-handed pitcher Dominic Voegele with the 82nd overall pick in the third round.
Following an earlier selection of a talented position player, Baltimore turned to the mound to land one of college baseball’s more intriguing power arms. While Voegele’s traditional statistics were inconsistent this spring, scouts were drawn to his electric stuff, elite strikeout ability, and significant long-term projection.
A Pitcher Scouts Couldn’t Ignore
Voegele, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior from Columbia, Illinois, arrived at Kansas as one of the program’s top young arms. He earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2024 and developed into a key weekend starter for the Jayhawks.
In 2026, he posted a 6-4 record with a 5.85 ERA over 17 starts and 97 innings pitched. He allowed 101 hits and 68 runs (63 earned), walked 35, and struck out 120 batters (11.1 K/9), while posting a 1.402 WHIP and .260 opponent average. Despite the elevated ERA, evaluators prioritized his underlying traits.
According to scouting reports:
- Fastball sitting in the low-to-mid 90s (touching 96-98 mph in bursts) with good life and carry, especially when elevated.
- High-spin slider (frequently 2,900+ RPM) in the low-to-mid 80s as a primary swing-and-miss weapon.
- Developing secondary offerings and feel for sequencing.
- Athletic, clean delivery with solid present control and strike-throwing ability.
MLB Pipeline and others highlighted him as one of the better strikeout pitchers available in the middle rounds, praising his ability to miss bats against quality competition.
Why Baltimore Likes Him
The Orioles have built one of baseball’s strongest player development systems by targeting pitchers with elite, refinable traits rather than relying solely on polished results.
Key targets for Baltimore often include:
- Pitch characteristics and spin efficiency.
- Strikeout rates and swing-and-miss stuff.
- Athleticism and projectable delivery.
Voegele checks nearly every box. His mechanics, fastball life, and plus breaking ball offer the development staff significant upside. With improvements in pitch sequencing, consistency, and command, he has the tools to become a rotation contributor or high-leverage reliever.
Orioles Continue Pitching Emphasis
Pitching depth remains a priority for the organization. While the Orioles already boast one of baseball’s deepest farm systems, adding another high-upside college arm bolsters the next wave of talent. College pitchers like Voegele typically advance faster through the minors, positioning him as a potential quick riser after signing.
About Dominic Voegele
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
School: University of Kansas
Height/Weight: 6-2, 200 pounds
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Hometown: Columbia, Illinois
Drafted: No. 82 overall (3rd Round), 2026 MLB Draft by Baltimore Orioles
MSB Take
This is the type of selection Orioles fans have come to expect from Mike Elias and the scouting department: a high-ceiling arm whose raw tools outshine his surface-level college stats. Voegele isn’t a finished product, but his strikeout stuff and athletic profile align with Baltimore’s proven ability to develop pitchers.
If the Orioles can sharpen his command and maximize the fastball-slider combination, Dominic Voegele has the ingredients to become another successful homegrown contributor in one of the game’s premier farm systems. A strong value add on Day 1.
