Baltimore Orioles Daily: Big decisions loom ahead of tonight’s MLB Draft

The Baltimore Orioles will try to select a future franchise cornerstone with the 11th overall pick in tonight’s MLB Draft.

The Baltimore Orioles may not have a game tonight, but it’s still a huge day for the franchise. The Birds are poised to begin a major rebuilding project, and with the 11th overall pick in tonight’s MLB Draft, they can take a big step forward in that process.

In MLB.com’s double-decker mock draft, Jonathan Mayo has the Birds selecting lefty Ryan Weathers, while Jim Callis has them taking righty Cole Winn. Other pitchers who may be available in that slot include Carter Stewart, Matthew Liberatore and Logan Gilbert; available hitters could include Nolan Gorman, Travis Swaggerty and Jarred Kelenic.

The draft is set to begin tonight at 7 p.m. ET. Until then, here’s what you might have missed yesterday.

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Best of Baltimore Orioles news and analysis across the web from 6/3/18

Orioles enter MLB draft with focus on building depth while keeping options open with 11th overall pick: While many have speculated that the Orioles will target a college starter with their first-round pick, it sounds as though they’re taking a best-player-available approach. In this piece, Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun speaks to Birds scouting director Gary Rajsich about the big decision.

Orioles’ Duquette: ‘We’ve got to put a little bit sharper focus on the future’: While Encina was chatting up Rajsich, the Baltimore Sun’s Jon Meoli spoke with GM Dan Duquette. It certainly appears that the Birds are getting set to tear down their roster, but remember, the front office does have a history of erratic behavior.

Orioles minor league recap 6/4: Hall struggles again, but Delmarva splits doubleheader: Even the O’s minor league affiliates were hit hard by the rain, but the Delmarva Shorebirds did manage to squeeze in a pair of games, splitting a doubleheader with the Charleston Yankees. Ben Hansford of Camden Chat has more.

Next: The top 5 strikeout pitchers in Orioles history

Who do you think the Birds will take with their first pick in the draft? Let us know on social media, and keep it here at Birds Watcher for more updates on the Baltimore Orioles.