Orioles forced to settle in Sports Illustrated's final 2026 MLB Mock Draft

The MLB draft is just two days away. As the day of the draft gets closer and closer, the two names most associated with the Baltimore Orioles have been Jacob Lombard and Eric Booth Jr., two toolsy high schoolers who have a lot of upside. The problem for the Orioles is that most draft experts do not expect either Lombard or Booth Jr. to be available at the number seven pick, so unless one of the six teams drafting ahead of the Orioles on Saturday decides to go way off script with their pick, the Orioles' chances of getting their preferred draft targets feel low. If that is the case, the question then becomes what player the Orioles will take as their consolation prize.

Sports Illustrated's latest mock draft has the Orioles taking LSU center fielder Derek Curiel with the seventh overall pick. Curiel would be an interesting choice for the Orioles at seven. He is a fit in the sense that the Orioles love taking "safe" college bats, and with his hit tool being widely considered one of the best in this draft class, he makes sense for an Orioles team that is desperately trying to fix a serious strikeout issue. The other fit is defensively; Curiel would be the Orioles' third first-round center fielder in three years.

Derek Curiel would be a very on brand pick for the Orioles

Orioles fans tired of watching their team strike out so much certainly wouldn't mind a prospect with a knack for putting bat on ball, but the Orioles have been down a similar road with 2023 first-round draft pick Enrique Bradfield Jr., who had similar power questions to Curiel. The Orioles took Bradfield with the idea that if they could add some juice to his bat, his speed and defense would make him an impact player. Three years later, and Bradfield's bat is as limp as ever.

Curiel is a much, much better pure hitter than Bradfield Jr. was, and his power deficiency isn't quite as drastic, but drafting him is a very similar bet on the Orioles' player development being able to help a college bat add power, and that's proven to be difficult.

There is some upside; if Curiel could add the power that he's missing, then he could end up being one of the best prospects from this draft, but overall, taking Curiel would feel like the Orioles playing it very safe. A good defender who can put the bat on the ball will most likely progress through the minors and become a major leaguer, even if his ultimate destiny is just to be a 4th outfielder type.

If the Orioles were picking in the teens or the twenties like they have the last few years, a player like Curiel would be a dream outcome, but at the seventh pick, they really should try to come away from this draft with a high-upside first-round pick. Lombard and Booth Jr. would both be that, but if they're not available at seven, then the Orioles may be forced to settle for a safe pick.

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