2022 Orioles Mock Draft – Day #1

Today is Draft day! In this Orioles mock draft, we’ll predict all four of the Orioles picks on Sunday. Do you agree with these picks?

For the second time in the last four years, the Baltimore Orioles have the first overall pick in the MLB Draft. In history, it is the team’s third time.

The first ever was in 1989 with current MASN broadcaster Ben McDonald. The former LSU product, arguably the best pitcher in NCAA history, played for the O’s for seven seasons. He retired in 1998 with shoulder injuries.

Thrity years later, in 2019, with Mike Elias’s crew, Baltimore picked Adley Rutschman, catcher from Oregon State. The generational talent is currently on the Makor League roster and justifying the nickmane ‘Clutchman‘.

Our hope is it’ll be the last time the Orioles have the #1 pick for a long time. Not only for the farm (the best ranked in MLB Pipeline on pre-season), but with the team playing  competitive baseball for the first time since August 2017. Baltimore finished at least .500 before the All-Star Break and the O’s could be buyers in the next trade deadline, too.

Independent of the results (mock or real, doesn’t matter), let’s cheer for all of them.

Let’s do this!

Round 1, pick #1 – Termarr Johnson (2B – Mays GA)

We’re going based on Elias’s strategy since he arrived in Baltimore and manage the draft. Termarr is the best left-handed batter (like Kjerstad and Cowser – the last two first-round picks) and plays middle infielder. Assuming he stays at 2B, he’ll be a great pick.

One eye-opening detail in the scouting report from MLB Pipeline (full report here):

“One scout gave him a double Hall of Famer comparison by calling him a combination of Wade Boggs’ plate discipline and Vladimir Guerrero Sr.’s bat-to-ball skills.”

In high school, he batted .390/.543/.983 with nine home runs, twenty walks and only six strikeouts in three years. In my personal opinion, Termarr or Druw Jones will be a nice pick.

Competitive Balance Round A, pick #33 – Gabriel Hughes (RHP – Gonzaga)

Elias hasn’t ruled out a pitcher with this pick. He’s very reluctant to draft arms and the history shows us: the first pitchers in Elias’ regime are chosen in the fifth-round (Carter Baumler and Carlos Tavera). The 1-1 pick won’t be a pitcher, so here might be sense.

Hughes was the ace for Gonzaga in 2022. His three-pitch mix is solid, and scouts describe him as ‘the best arm on the West Coast’. Maybe Connor Priellip falls, but Hughes will be a great addition.

Full report here

Round 2, pick #42 – Jacob Melton (OF – Oregon State)

An outfielder who plays in center and had experience in play all three outfield positions plus infield sometimes. A versatile player with good numbers in two full seasons for the Beavers (.364/.428/.660 slash line, 23 Home Runs, 108 RBI and 86 SB in his NCAA career).

With the ‘middle-of-the-field’ vision, he’s the guy who could be a steal if he falls to the second round. A lot of names could have the same destiny, too. I’ll be fine if Sterlin Thompson falls (but I don’t expect that to happen).

Full report here

Competitive Balance Round B, pick #67 (from Marlins) – Ivan Melendez (1B – Texas)

If this happens, let’s cheer Birdland!!! In the final MLB Mock Draft from MLB Pipeline by Jim Callis and Johnatan Mayo, they put Melendez in Competitive Balance Round A. So, now he receives a boost in his value… Okay.

Melendez won the Golden Spikes Award in 2022. He destroyed the ball for the Longhorns and sets the Home Run record for Texas in a season for Home Runs (32) and led the NCAA Division I in RBI (94), total bases (214) and slugging (.863). Ironically, in last year’s draft, Miami chose him in the16th round.

Full report here

Have a nice draft day, folks!!!