This prospect might be the Orioles best shot at drafting a superstar

With the 7th overall pick in this weekend's MLB Draft, the Orioles will have plenty of talent to choose from. Many Orioles would like them to draft the top arm in the draft class, Jackson Flora, but as the draft has gotten closer, the name that seems most closely tied to the Orioles is high school outfielder Eric Booth Jr.

Blessed with 70 Grade speed and all of the physical attributes a team would want in a starting outfielder, Booth Jr. is a player who could develop into a complete game-changer at the professional level. Booth's tantalizing tools have caused him to rocket up the draft board to the point where he is almost guaranteed to be a top-10 pick. 

The Orioles are hoping that Eric Booth Jr. will fall to them at pick seven

In his senior season at Oak Grove, Booth Jr. boasted an OPS of over 1.600 in 29 games played, scoring nearly two times every game. With just five home runs, Booth Jr. might not possess the notable power of players like Drew Burress or Roch Cholowsky, but scouts believe that his power will continue to improve over time, projecting him to eventually become a player capable of hitting 25 home runs a year. If his Home Run Derby title at last year’s Perfect Game All-American Classic is any indication, Booth Jr. will do just fine in the power department.  

While long balls are always a welcome sight, it’s the speed of Booth Jr. that will likely earn him a hefty signing bonus following the draft. And now that stolen bases have once again become highly valued in today’s game, teams will likely covet a player like Booth Jr. and their ability to turn a game around in an instant. Although he has committed to play college ball at Vanderbilt, it may be too hard for Booth Jr. to pass up the big payday and chance to achieve his childhood dream. 

You might be thinking to yourself, “a toolsy outfielder with elite speed that could join the Orioles organization, where have I heard that before?” And if you’ve kept track of the team’s minor league system, you’d immediately point to Orioles top prospect Nate George, who is making quick work of the minor leagues as he continues to impress scouts at every level. You’d also look at Enrique Bradfield Jr., a player that some consider to be the fastest player in all of professional baseball. 

But the thing about baseball is that you can never have too much speed. And with the Orioles’ ability to put runs up on the scoreboard, having players who can easily swipe bags and score from first is like adding peanut butter to jelly. The organization has clearly made a concerted effort to focus more on athleticism and raw talent in recent years, so Booth Jr. would fit in perfectly as the Orioles’ first-round selection.   

Since selecting Adley Rutschman with the 1st overall pick in 2019, the Orioles have exclusively focused on drafting position players. From Jordan Westburg to Heston Kjerstad, that strategy has seen some mixed results so far. Despite that, there is an undeniable high level of young offensive talent currently in the O's organization. Booth Jr. has the chance to come in and lead that next generation of talent.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow