{"id":19000,"date":"2022-07-19T09:53:02","date_gmt":"2022-07-19T09:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/mlb-draft-results-orioles-go-all-college-in-day-2-including-5-pitchers\/"},"modified":"2022-07-19T09:53:02","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T09:53:02","slug":"mlb-draft-results-orioles-go-all-college-in-day-2-including-5-pitchers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/mlb-draft-results-orioles-go-all-college-in-day-2-including-5-pitchers\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB Draft results: Orioles go all college in Day 2, including 5 pitchers"},"content":{"rendered":"
Until this year, when they selected Jackson Holliday at #1 overall, the Orioles had never used their top pick in a draft on a high school player. This was not the beginning of an indication that the Orioles are looking to add a bunch of just-graduated high school kids into the farm system. They picked three college players after Holliday on Day 1 of the draft and when all was said and done on Day 2 of the draft, they went another eight-for-eight on drafting college talent.<\/p>\n
Mike Elias has never hidden what is easier to appreciate about college players. Predictive models can factor in college statistics in a way that it’s much harder to do for high school players. There’s both a better sense of what a player’s strengths might be, what his weaknesses are, and what of those weaknesses might be able to be sanded down with time, instruction, and effort.<\/p>\n
The group of Day 2 players picked by the Orioles did not contain any surprise swerves into making a run at a probably-headed-to-college high school player. They have selected a bunch of players who will probably sign for more or less close to the slot value of their picks. If the O’s are fortunate, one or two of them might build himself some prospect stock over the next couple of seasons. If they’re not, well, they’ll probably pick some more college guys next year and try again.<\/p>\n
Day 2 was noteworthy for one other reason: The Orioles finally drafted some pitchers high in the draft. The previous three Elias drafts did not see a pitcher taken before the fifth round, and no more than two pitchers in the first ten rounds. Five of the eight picks made by the O’s today are pitchers. <\/p>\n
Two-way player as an amateur, listed as a pitcher when drafted by the Orioles. That’s probably a sign that they intend to have him stay as a pitcher, although who knows, things could get weird. At MLB Pipeline, where the 6’3 \u201drighty is the #118 prospect in the draft class, they said this about his arm:<\/p>\n
\nThere are no questions about his arm, which delivers fastballs up to 98 mph and a pair of breaking pitches (downer curveball, power slider) that have a chance to become plus offerings. He’s averaging nearly two strikeouts per inning as a high-leverage reliever for Oklahoma State and evaluators are beginning to wonder if his future might be brighter on the mound. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Even if he’s solely a pitcher, this pick is immediately interesting for one reason: It’s the first time the Orioles have drafted a pitcher this high in the draft under Mike Elias. They had previously not drafted a pitcher before the fifth round.<\/p>\n
McLean was used exclusively as a reliever when pitching for Oklahoma State – where, by the way, Josh Holliday, uncle of Orioles #1 pick Jackson, is the head coach. He struck out 39 batters in 25.1 innings, and batted .285\/.397\/.595 with 19 home runs in 64 games as a third baseman. He is a draft-eligible sophomore, having gone to college after going undrafted in the five-round 2020 draft. He had designs of also playing football when he arrived on campus, then the football team didn’t give him any playing time, so baseball it was.<\/p>\n
Here’s McLean throwing some strikes and also hitting a dinger for the Cowboys:<\/p>\n
\n\nR3, P81: RHP\/INF NOLAN MCLEAN (Oklahoma State)<\/p>\n
-Mid-90s FB + good, slow 12-6 curve
-25.1 IP in relief in 2022, 4.97 ERA, 39 K, 13 BB, .206 BAA
-2022 hitting: slashed .285\/.397\/.595 w\/ 19 HR but 107 K in 242 AB
-Announced as pitcher, but potential 2-waypic.twitter.com\/LZaAM9dsWD<\/a><\/p>\n\u2014 Locked On Orioles (@LockedOnOrioles) July 18, 2022<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
4th round\/#107 overall – Silas Ardoin – C – Texas<\/h4>\n
This name might seem familiar to those whose long-term memory is full of completely useless information like the names of obscure former Orioles. Ardoin’s father, Danny, played in five games for the 2006 team as part of a five-year big league career. Silas Ardoin, like his father, is a catcher.<\/p>\n
MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis recognized Ardoin right away on hearing his name being called out, calling him \u201cone of the best, if not the best, defensive catchers\u201d in the draft class this year. Callis also noted that Ardoin \u201cstepped it up offensively, this year he’s driving it more consistently … he might hit 12 or 15 home runs.\u201d He was the sixth catcher taken in the draft.<\/p>\n
The 6’0\u201d righty batter checks in at #146 on MLB Pipeline’s top 250 prospect ranking. Here’s what they had to say about him:<\/p>\n
\nArdoin’s upbringing shows because he’s extremely polished for a college catcher. He has soft hands and receives, frames and blocks balls well. He not only has plus arm strength but also a quick release and impressive throwing accuracy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Prior to this season, Ardoin was notable for drawing walks but not hitting for much in the way of power. That improved this season, as Callis noted, with Ardoin posting a .271\/.391\/.513 batting line over 69 games. He hit 12 home runs. It is not bad to have some competition for the future backup to Adley Rutschman. Someone out there has to be better at both defense and hitting than Robinson Chirinos.<\/p>\n
Ardoin throwing a dude out:<\/p>\n
\n\nSilas Ardoin, C, Texas: I really don’t care where Ardoin is ranked, I think he’s a future MLB starting catcher. Great defense, great batted ball data. <\/p>\n