Baltimore Orioles: Top two 2008 draft picks suiting up for the O’s this year

The MLB Draft is one of the toughest to predict. As the Baltimore Orioles will learn in 2018, not all of the highest drafted players stay relevant ten years later. This year, they may employ the top two picks. What is each of them looking for in Baltimore?

From the Tampa Bay Rays to the Baltimore Orioles. 

A decade ago, the 2008 MLB Draft took place with the Tampa Bay Rays selecting first overall. They decided to go with a shortstop out of high school, Tim Beckham. How did the pick work out?

Up until late last year, Beckham looked like an absolute bust. He didn’t hit well at all in Tampa Bay. There was never a reason to believe he would ever amount to anything more.

During his days with the Rays, Beckham failed to make a name for himself. In need of a change, he was shipped to the Baltimore Orioles last summer. The new uniform turned his career around. Beckham looked like a completely different player with the Orioles. This year, he should even open the season as the team’s starting third baseman while Manny Machado shifts to shortstop.

The Orioles are no strangers to the 2008 MLB Draft. They had their own pick early on, selecting fourth overall. It’s there that they took pitcher Brian Matusz. Like Beckham, he didn’t reach expectations.

During his eight seasons with the Orioles, Matusz often struggled. He’d eventually finish his tenure with the O’s with a 27-41 record and 4.85 ERA. The production was far from fourth overall pick worthy.

Before Matusz went to the Orioles at number four, the Pittsburgh Pirates snatched slugger Pedro Alvarez. Following some ups and downs in Pittsburgh, Alvarez has spent the last several seasons fighting for at-bats with the Orioles. He’s currently signed to a minor league deal for 2018, but the possibility of seeing some MLB action looks strong. He’s always one injury or power outage in Baltimore away from getting promoted.

Several other first-round picks from the 2008 draft have spent significant time with the Orioles. In 2018, pitcher Andrew Cashner will add his name to the list. However, he’s not part of the intriguing pair of Beckham and Alvarez.

The Baltimore Orioles and their pair of top two picks

The more interesting story about the Baltimore Orioles and the 2008 draft is that they could open the year with the number one and two pick on their roster. Even if they don’t, Alvarez will remain in the organization.

Interestingly enough, despite receiving a job offer minutes apart a decade ago, each is looking for something completely different from the 2018 season.

Beckham’s goals include continuing where he left off. No one could have predicted the turnaround he had in Baltimore. When it looked like all hope was lost, Beckham heated up at the plate for a career-year.

In what will qualify as his age 28 season, Beckham is looking to become a more recognizable name across MLB — if he can replicate the .306/.348/.523 slash line he had in 230 trips to the plate late last season, it very well may. The Orioles are a team few expect to compete. This shouldn’t stop Beckham from enjoying his first full season at Camden Yards.

Meanwhile, Alvarez falls more into the “has-been” than the “never-was” category. A poor batting average, lots of strikeouts, and horrendous defense took away a lot of the good things he did in Pittsburgh. This is pretty unfortunate. For a while, he was one of the league’s best home run hitters.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

In 2013, Alvarez led the National League with 36 home runs. He continued to mash for two more seasons before he was non-tendered by the Pirates and landed with the Orioles in 2016. Since then, Alvarez has had a tough time seeing regular big league action.

The story will remain the same for Alvarez this season. With similar players like Mark Trumbo, Chris Davis, and Trey Mancini on the MLB roster, there’s no imminent need.

Not the desired duo

Sadly, for the Orioles, the Beckham and Alvarez combination is far from the best pair taken in the top five in that year’s draft. Drafted third overall, Eric Hosmer went to the Kansas City Royals right before the Orioles selected Matusz.

If there’s any bright outlook there, it’s not as if the Orioles had a shot at drafting him since they picked after the Royals.

The more significant miss, because they passed on him, was the number five pick. There, the San Francisco Giants took franchise star, Buster Posey. Hopefully, a scout somewhere didn’t get a Christmas bonus.

Next: Ichiro nearing a Seattle return

Ten years ago, no one could have predicted Beckham and Alvarez would suit up for the Orioles together with plenty on the line. A lousy year from Alvarez will severely damage his chances at MLB at-bats. A regression from Beckham and he loses all of the credibility he gained last year.