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Baltimore Orioles Mock Draft 2.0: The No.1 pick is solidified, right?

By Jeremiah Carson |
General Manager Mike Elias of the Baltimore Orioles. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
General Manager Mike Elias of the Baltimore Orioles. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
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In our latest edition of the Baltimore Orioles mock draft, we cover once more who should be picked where and why. Surely, Mike Elias has his pick, right?

You can check out Birds Watcher’s Mock Draft 1.0 here, as we tracked down who the Baltimore Orioles should look at for their No.1 pick. This time, however, we will break down what Mike Elias has done in the past, who we think will go No.5 thought No.2, and finally, who we think the O’s should take as the No.1 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft next month.

The word confusion comes to mind when relating how Baltimore Orioles fans feel about Mike Elias’ draft picks since becoming the GM in Charm City. Besides Adley Rutschman, Elias’ choices in 2020 and 2021 have been fascinating, to say the least.

In 2020, the Orioles GM selected Heston Kjerstad, OF, from the University of Arkansas at No.2 overall. The Baltimore Orioles shocked the world by hanging a $5.2 million deal with Kjerstad. All of Birdland will someday go into a frenzy if Kjerstad actually makes it to The Show. With lingering symptoms of myocarditis, Kjerstad is still climbing the proverbial ladder to the bigs.

Baltimore Orioles Mock Draft 2.0: The No.1 pick is solidified, right?

Last year in 2021, Mike Elias took Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State University at No.5. According to MLB Pipeline that year, Cowser was the No.10 prospect, still making him an exciting choice getting picked in the 5th slot.

Both Cowser and Kjerstad at contending in the packed outfield in the Baltimore Orioles Farm System as they both look to raise the ranks to The Show. In 2019, Mike Elias took Adley at No.1, and now three years later, he gets to select the No.1 overall pick again.

While with the Houston Astros, in his grooming stages, Elias contributed to helping draft Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, and J.B. Bukauskas. The Baltimore Orioles GM is no rookie when selecting No.1 overall picks, as he has done in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2019. Now, can he do it again and well enough to help the O’s bounce out of this rebuild? That is yet to be seen.

Potential Baltimore Orioles draftees participate in the Major League Baseball All-Star High School Home Run Derby. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
Potential Baltimore Orioles draftees participate in the Major League Baseball All-Star High School Home Run Derby. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) /

MLB.com has updated its top prospect rankings for 2022 here, and it comes as no surprise that Druw Jones, son of Andruw Jones, is at the top. In our Mock Draft 1.0, we chose Jones as the No.1 pick to the Baltimore Orioles, but as things gain traction threw the weeks to come, will he still go 1st overall? Keep following along.

With zero added input from the rest of the FanSided MLB division (for now), we have decided to play GM for the other teams with top picks and draft from No.5 down to No.2. The Baltimore Orioles Beltway foes have the No.5 pick, and the Nationals need depth in more than a few spots.

With the No.5 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals select:

Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech

Parada is this year’s Adley Rutschman and by far the top college athlete in the draft. The Nationals need depth in the Catcher slot and have been keeping close tabs on Parada. They will be lucky to have him fall this far, but if he does, there will be no question as to where he goes.

Baltimore Orioles Mock Draft 2.0: The No.1 pick is solidified, right?

With the No.4 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates select:

Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly

The No.5 overall prospect has a gun for an arm and can patrol the infield better than anyone in the draft. The Pirates are prone to taking college players in the draft, so Lee is a no-brainer for them. That is unless Mike Elias has other things in mind at No.1.

With the No.3 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Texas Rangers select:

Elijah Green, OF, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.

Even though Elijah Green is the No.2 prospect, look for him to be available after the first two selections. Green probably is the best physically in the entire draft and will be a crucial selection for the Fighting Nolans at No.3.

With the No.2 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks select:

Druw Jones, OF, Wesleyan HS, Peachtree Corners, Ga.

Wait, what? Newsflash, read all about it! In the rare event that Mike Elias shocks the world again, this would see Druw Jones fall to the 2nd selection, and the Diamondbacks would be fools not to take him. Arizona’s backup plans if Jones doesn’t fall include Green and Termarr Johnson. Now, who will the Baltimore Orioles select at No.1? Click next to find out!

Stillwater High School senior Jackson Holliday is projected to be the Baltimore Orioles’ first-round pick in July’s MLB Draft.
Stillwater High School senior Jackson Holliday is projected to be the Baltimore Orioles’ first-round pick in July’s MLB Draft. /

With the No.1 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Baltimore Orioles select:

Jackson Holliday, SS, Stillwater (Okla.) HS

From no way in our Mock Draft 1.0 to No.1 in this month’s edition, Jackson Holliday has climbed the ladder of our hearts and landed as the 1st overall pick. Holliday has an incredible baseball pedigree, with his father being seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday. Jackson, like his dad, is a triple-threat type of player, with his above-average pace, hitting, and strength.

Baltimore Orioles Mock Draft 2.0: The No.1 pick is solidified, right?

The Orioles are concentrating on five players, including a combination of seven of the top 100 prospects. Druw Jones, Elijah Green, Holliday, Termarr Johnson, Brooks Lee, Kevin Parada, and Jacob Berry. Mike Elias seems always to be looking for that deep discount with profound prospectus outcomes, making Holliday a top choice.

With the Orioles’ already crowded outfield, Holliday is a perfect choice with the No.1 pick. Thre his senior season, he has gotten faster and more robust and has become a consistent plus runner. His high baseball IQ also helps boost his overall grade as he can play at either SS, 2B, or 3B.

Next. Ranking the worst Baltimore Orioles contracts for 2022. dark

It’s understandable that Druw Jones should be the Baltimore Orioles’ top pick, and in a lot of experts’ minds will be, but for now, start getting to know Jackson Holliday. I promise that you won’t be disappointed. Keep an eye out as we get closer to the draft for more Mock Draft editions from the entire FanSided MLB division and us.

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