Grading Orioles GM Mike Elias's last 5 first-round draft picks

The Orioles’ vaunted young core has been many years in the making. General manager Mike Elias had the privilege of a top-five draft pick in each of his first four years at the helm, but a top slot doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. (Just ask the Padres who still feel the pain of selecting Matt Bush No. 1 overall when they have to face No. 2 pick Justin Verlander.)

When Elias joined Baltimore in 2018, he had already built a reputation for keen draft choices as a scouting and player development guru with Houston. Under his supervision, the Astros nabbed Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, Lance McCullers Jr., and many other keys to their multiple World Series appearances. 

Has Elias translated those results to the Orioles? Let’s take a look back and grade each of the GM’s first five first-round draft picks.

2019 - Adley Rutschman (No. 1) - A+

Elias started his tenure with a no-doubter. Rutschman was the consensus best pick in the draft and immediately garnered “face of the franchise” status. He sailed through the Minors and landed in Baltimore full-time in 2022. Since then, he has earned MVP votes, a pair of All-Star selections, and a Silver Slugger Award.

Rutschman entirely turned around the franchise. He draws comparisons to Buster Posey and Joe Mauer, and he has eclipsed Salvador Perez as the best catcher in the American League, if not the Majors. Orioles fans would appreciate one more point of comparison with those three legends: a long-term extension that keeps Rutschman in Baltimore for the foreseeable future.