Does the 2020 MLB Draft Matter for the Baltimore Orioles

One good thing about being a bad baseball team is that you get a good draft pick. But, with the Baltimore Orioles, does this matter?

Yes, the Baltimore Orioles will get a player who shows promise. But what happens later is what really matters.

The 2020 MLB Draft will happen, and the Orioles will get the second pick, because even though the team was bad, they weren’t as bad as the 2019 Detroit Tigers.

Only the front office knows who the team will pick, but rumor has it that they have their eyes on a potential outfielder/third baseman named Austin Martin from Vanderbilt University. This is assuming the Tigers pick Spencer Torkelson, a first baseman from Arizona State. But, there is also an outstanding left-handed pitcher, Asa Lacy, who could fill a massive hole in the Orioles organization.

After the #2 pick, the Orioles then get the #30 and #39 picks. By the time these roll around, who knows what the Orioles will do. Sadly, it probably won’t matter now and much into the future.

Why am I a bit salty about the draft? The answer is simple: the Orioles don’t make good choices. At least not recently. And, if they do draft someone useful, they tend to do something stupid with him, which is why the Orioles will probably be the worst – or close to the worst – team in the AL. Again.

I’m not alone in my frustration.

Yes, there are some good prospects on the horizon. Adley Rutschman is expected to be the catcher of the future. He’s also expected to be the bat of the future. But, do you remember the hype about Chance Sisco? I do. Rutschman grades out better than Sisco did. But, nothing is certain in the MLB. Sisco was all the buzz. And, now – there’s none.

These are the first-round picks the Orioles have made since 2010:

• 2010: Manny Machado
• 2011: Dylan Bundy
• 2012: Kevin Gausman
• 2013: Hunter Harvey
• 2015: DJ Stewart
• 2016: Ryan Mountcastle
• 2017: DL Hall
• 2018: Grayson Rodriguez
• 2019: Rutschman

See why I’m not excited. There’s talent here, but look what the O’s do with their talent. I know Machado is a thorn in the side of Orioles fans for several reasons. But, do you realize that he is still only 27 years old?

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And consider the 2013 pick, Hunter Harvey. Rumor has it he’ll be on the mound in 2020 – if the season continues. Have you heard much buzz about that? No. But, take – for example – the White Sox 2013 pick: Tim Anderson. He’s been playing in Chicago since 2016, and in 2019 – he won a batting title for hitting .335. He’s become one of the faces of the team, and he makes the White Sox interesting.

It’s not just the White Sox who have exciting young players making waves in the MLB. The most exciting picks are the international ones. Look at the Blue Jays and 21-year-old Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Or the Braves and 24-year-old Ozzie Albies and 23-year-old Ronald Acuña Jr. Seeing other teams have so much success with young talent makes the O’s poor international signings so much more evident.

The last two good international signings, Jonathan Schoop and Eduardo Rodriguez, are making other teams better.

Sure, getting a top draft pick is nice. It soothes the ache of a crappy season. But, it doesn’t do anything to make the Orioles better or create much excitement at least for a few years. And, with the record the front office has with trading away valuable players and not getting anything in return, I’m not exciting about the upcoming draft. How many more crappy seasons are you willing to endure?