The Baltimore Orioles could get creative with the second overall pick in this year’s draft. Here’s to hoping they don’t.
Despite a severely shortened Major League Baseball draft in 2020, the Baltimore Orioles are still in a prime position to add elite talent to their growing pipeline and keep the momentum going from a strong 2019 draft, the first under general manager Mike Elias.
Long considered one of the worst farm systems in baseball, most major outlets agree that Baltimore now owns a middle-of-the-pack system, with last year’s top overall pick Adley Rutschman providing a major boost. That happens when you select one of the top draft prospects in the history of the modern draft era.
The Orioles, like every other team, won’t have the opportunity to add much depth in this year’s five-round draft (compared to the normal 40 rounds), but with three picks within the first 39 selections, Baltimore finds themselves in a prime position to bring in notable talents to complement the likes of Rutschman, RHP Grayson Rodriguez, LHP DL Hall, IF Gunnar Henderson, and other younger prospects who profile as true major league talent.
As we inch closer and closer to draft day on June 10th, a top-three group of prospects has separated themselves from the pack. This group includes Arizona State 1B Spencer Torkelson, Vanderbilt IF/OF Austin Martin, and Texas A&M LHP Asa Lacy. It’s very likely one of these special talents joins the Baltimore Orioles, with most recent mock drafts having the Orioles going with Martin at number two overall.
Could weeks of quarantine, no regular season to focus on, and more time to think about this pick lead Mike Elias down a crazy and unpredictable path come draft night? Is going underslot with a pick like New Mexico State second baseman Nick Gonzalez an option? It’s certainly a possibility. After all, Gonzalez was hitting .448 with a .610 OBP and 12 home runs through 16 games this year before the sports world went into lockdown.
The second base prospect hit .392 as an Aggie within the very hitter-friendly confines in Las Cruces, New Mexico over the course of his career. He showed major league scouts how well he could hit away from his home ballpark by taking home MVP honors in the Cape Cod League last summer, slashing .351/.451/.630 with 25 extra-base hits.
Saving money at the top of the draft to go after some of the top high school talent and tougher signs in late rounds is a strategy worth taking a serious look at, but the Orioles shouldn’t overthink this decision.
Whether it’s Torkelson or Martin, or even Lacy, the Orioles have to make sure they take the top name on their board among these three players, preferably one of the two advanced college bats.
Torkelson brings with him the top power tool in this year’s draft, according to MLB Pipeline, and should be an extremely fast riser through the minor leagues. Torkelson hit 54 home runs in 129 collegiate games at ASU, compiling a .337/.463/.729 slash line. A middle of the lineup combo of Torkelson and Rutschman would be one of the more formidable duos in all of baseball.
If Asa Lacy would have had the opportunity to complete his junior season, there’s a real possibility he could have worked his way into the conversation for the top overall pick, at least a lock to be taken second overall. While the vast majority of mock drafts have Torkelson and Martin at the top, Lacy’s four-pitch mix and high swing and miss ability have to be intriguing to the Orioles.
Baltimore has struggled to find two or three reliable starters in the rotation over the years, much less a full rotation. The thought of a rotation led by Grayson Rodriguez, DL Hall, and Asa Lacy should have Orioles fans salivating.
As for Martin, the former Vanderbilt standout has a track record of success against SEC pitchers, provides defensive flexibility, and possesses the top hit tool in the draft (MLB Pipeline). Martin hit .368 with a .474 OBP in his 140 games as a Commodore and adds respectable speed on the basepaths, something the Orioles have lacked.
He never quite tapped into his power and wasn’t able to showcase his abilities at shortstop, but scouts are high on his ability to play third base, shortstop, or center field in the big leagues.
Draft experts have long touted the 2020 draft as being one of the deeper classes in recent memory, particularly when it comes to college pitchers. Having two picks at number 30 and 39 overall gives Baltimore the option to take a highly touted pitcher later on, if they desire.
Stay smart, go with Torkelson or Martin, and give Baltimore Orioles fans another reason to have hope during what is sure to be another rough season or two in the Charm City.