One day, the Orioles may look back at the 2019 draft as a turning point.
Baltimore held the No. 1 overall pick in one of those rare years with an obvious No. 1 talent.
Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman was regarded as the best draft prospect since Bryce Harper nine years earlier. Rutschman was the College Player of the Year that season. He was a national champion the year before who was sure to be a franchise catcher in the future.
That future is now.
Rutschman entered the 2022 season ranked as the No. 1 prospect in baseball. A triceps injury set him back in spring training, but when he got back on the field in late April, it didn't take long for him to matriculate.
Rutschman made his MLB debut on May 21 and immediately impacted the Orioles' fortunes. Baltimore played at a 90-win pace with the 24-year-old rookie catcher anchoring the lineup and leading the pitching staff.
Rutschman led the Orioles in wins above replacement, and his WAR total ranked among the highest for a rookie catcher in the expansion era, appearing on the same list as Mike Piazza, Carlton Fisk, Thurman Munson, Johnny Bench and Buster Posey.
Just as Rutschman was settling into a routine in Baltimore, a new Orioles prospect was racing toward the top of the Top 100.
Denne historien er fra October 2022-utgaven av Baseball America.
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Denne historien er fra October 2022-utgaven av Baseball America.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Wood Has Towering Upside- Nationals rookie James Wood also stands 6-foot-7 and also has game-changing power.
Aaron Judge and Oneil Cruz are 6-foot7 sluggers who stand out for their power in this year’s MLB Best Tools voting. Wood spent half of this season with Triple-A Rochester before making his MLB debut on July 1. While he was in the International League, he captured managers’ attention. Wood unanimously won Best Power Prospect and also claimed Most Exciting Player in a survey of league skippers. Wood hit .353/.463/.595 with 10 home runs in 52 games for Rochester. His .242 isolated slugging was the best for a player 21 or younger at Triple-A this season.
ROAD BLOCK?
Scholarship expansion puts mid-majors at a major disadvantage on the road to Omaha
ROYALS REVIVAL
A revamped and rejuvenated farm system has Kansas City ready to rebound
SUMMER STANDOUTS
The top prospects in summer college leagues are poised to impact the 2025 draft
FLORIDA COMPLEX LEAGUE TOP 10
Last year’s Florida Complex League prospect crop has been beset by lengthy injuries to many of its top players, including Yankees pitchers Henry Lalane and Carlos Lagrange, Mets infielder Marco Vargas and Red Sox catcher Johanfran Garcia.
IN WITH THE NEW
The 2024 draft is in the books. The trade deadline is history.
WALCOTT BLASTS OFF
It took some time for Rangers shortstop Sebastian Walcott to find his footing at High-A Hickory.
A RECORD NIGHT FOR COLLEGIANS
Four key takeaways from the 2024 draft
K.C.MASTERPIECE
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. wins games for the Royals with his bat, glove, speed and baseball IQ. He might be the most tooled-up player in the game.
HOW THE MAJORS HAVE CHANGED FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
When negotiating the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the MLB Players Association prioritized the earning power of young major league players, especially young stars.
