Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman Still Projected to go First to O’s in Most Mock Drafts

It appears the Baltimore Orioles will indeed select Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman next Monday.

The 2019 MLB Draft is less than a week away, and it will be the Baltimore Orioles who will set the tone.

Baltimore holds the first overall pick after finishing with baseball’s worst record in 2018.

To many, the selection seems like it’s a slam dunk. Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman has been dubbed by many as the top player in the draft, and several mock drafts agree.

Several websites latest mock’s all have Rutschman as the Baltimore Orioles pick at No. 1; Baseball America, Bleacher Report, ESPN and The Athletic all have Rutschman as the O’s selection with the first pick in their most recent mock drafts.

When taking a look at Rutschman’s numbers, it’s clear why he will likely hear his name called Monday.

After a rough 2017 season, Rutschman bursted onto the scene in 2018. The Beavers catcher batted .408 with a .505 on-base percentage, drove in 83 runs, hit nine long-balls and picked up 102 hits in 250 at-bats as he helped lead Oregon State to their third National Championship with a historic College World Series performance that saw him record 17 hits.

Despite these incredible numbers, Rutschman has been even better in 2019. He enters the NCAA Tournament batting .419 with a sensational .580 OBP and has hit 17 home runs.

In addition to being excellent with the bat, Rutschman also is great with the glove. R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports wrote “he has a good arm, strong wrists that enable him to “stick” pitches and frame the strike zone, and more than enough athleticism to project as a catcher over the long haul.”

Clearly, by drafting Rutschman, the Baltimore Orioles would add a potential franchise-changing player as they look to add to a farm system that lacks much depth, especially at catcher.

Would you draft Rutschman or go a different route? Comment your thoughts below.