Welcome to draft weekend! For the first time since 2018, the Baltimore Orioles do not have a top 10 pick, which means that the choice is not as clear as Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday.
So, who are the possible picks at the 17th spot for Baltimore? Here are five options we expect the O’s to select in this year’s draft.
HURSTON WALDREP: RHP – FLORIDA
Hurston Waldrep is one of two names that are thrown around the most by MLB Draft analysts and many mock drafts. Waldrep is a 21-year-old right-hander who just finished his junior season at the University of Florida.
Waldrep originally attended Southern Miss University, where he started as a reliever. As a sophomore, he was given a rotation spot and put his name on the map.
Waldrep, in 2023, transferred to the University of Florida and made his mark on MLB Draft boards. The crafty right-hander started and pitched in 19 games and went 10-3 with a 4.16 ERA in 101.2 inning pitched. He gave up 85 hits, 47 earned runs, 57 walks and struck out 156.
Waldrep’s pitching helped the Gators make the College World Series Finals before losing to the two best prospects in Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes and the rest of the LSU Tigers. Waldrep is currently rated 19th in MLB Pipeline’s top draft prospects and would help build up the Orioles’ pitching depth down on the farm.
TOMMY TROY: INF – STANFORD
Tommy Troy is the other name that is thrown into the mix on who the Orioles should take.
Now, trust me, we all know that we drafted Jackson Holliday in 2022, and he is also a shortstop. That does not mean that the Orioles just can’t build other infield prospects for other positions.
Troy is a 21-year-old infielder who just finished his junior year at Stanford. He is considered an elite hitting prospect, tallying 34 home runs in his collegiate career.
Troy’s 2023 season was his best, as he slashed .394/.478/.699 with a 1.177 OPS in 58 total games. Troy ended his college career with a 1.014 OPS and had almost 200 collegiate hits.
Troy has also played some outfield for Stanford during the 2022 season and is currently ranked 17th in MLB Pipeline’s rankings. He would be a player that the Orioles can slot into multiple positions during his development.
MATT SHAW: INF – MARYLAND
Sometimes, you just need to look at who’s performing right in your home.
Matt Shaw is a 21-year-old infielder who finished his junior year at Maryland. He is a defensive-first shortstop, or so it was claimed. Shaw had 222 career collegiate hits in his time as a Terp and had a career .320 average.
In 62 games this past season, Shaw slashed .341/.445/.697 with a 1.142 OPS. He had 90 total hits, 20 doubles, 24 home runs and 69 RBIs and also stole 18 bases.
Shaw can play anywhere in the infield and is a player that always seems to get on base by any means necessary. He could be a huge asset in the near future, as Shaw is ranked 16th, according to MLB Pipeline.
I can see why fellow Battery writer Justin Sutphin likes him so much. The dude is the next coming of current O’s infield prospect, Joey Ortiz.
ENRIQUE BRADFIELD JR.: OF – VANDERBILT
It doesn’t feel right that Enrique Bradfield Jr. is not considered a top 10 pick in the 2023 draft. Bradfield’s college career has been nothing short of excellent, and even if he carries 50% of what he did in college, he will be a top prospect.
Bradfield is a 21-year-old outfielder out of Vanderbilt University, who is a speedster, to say the least. In three college seasons, he stole 130 bases on 143 attempts. Bradfield also walked a total of 131 times.
Bradfield is also a master in the outfield with his glove. His 2023 season was considered his “down year” as he had a .839 OPS in 62 games. But having two seasons of 40+ steals and walks puts him in a good position as a valuable prospect. Bradfield is currently ranked 21st, according to MLB Pipeline.
JAKE GELOF: INF – VIRGINIA
This draft class is filled with some of the best infield prospects in recent history that Jake Gelof might have been forgotten before the season began. It also doesn’t help when you have a brother that is currently in the Oakland Athletics farm system and you get compared to him in every game you play.
Gelof is a 21-year-old third baseman from the University of Virginia. He’s someone that I compare to Nolan Arenado; a great fielder with a lot of pop in his bat. Gelof had 48 home runs in college, including back-to-back seasons with 20 homers.
Gelof’s 2023 season was impressive, to say the least. He had a .710 slugging percentage and carried a 1.137 OPS. The former Cavalier had 81 total hits, 23 doubles, 23 home runs and 90 RBIs last season.
Gelof also walked 48 times and is going to be a sleeper in this draft, as MLB Pipeline only has him ranked 35th.
Who do you see the Orioles selecting with the 17th overall pick? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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