The Orioles have taken a pitcher with their top pick five of the past seven years.
Chances are to expect more of the same when the team selects its first player today with the No. 9 overall selection in this year?s amateur draft. Scouts and draft experts believe most of the top prospects are pitchers, including Baseball America, which lists 22 hurlers among its top 30 potential draft picks.
Orioles Scouting Director Joe Jordan gave no clear indication of who the team may select, only that they will take the best player available. Catonsville pitcher Neal Davis and Bishop Eustace Prep (N.J.) third baseman/shortstop Bill Rowell are among those who have worked out for the club recently at Camden Yards.
Baseball America projected Monday morning that the Orioles would pick Rowell. The infielder represents a need within the organization while Davis has the option of pitching for the University of Virginia. Rowell, according to Power Showcase, Inc., once hit a 512-foot home run in a high school home run derby.
“We don?t draft for need at the top of the draft,” said Jordan, in his second year with the Orioles. “We take the top player. At some point, we will turn to need. We need middle infielders (and) would like to add left-handed pitchers.”
Jordan scouted, in person, two pitchers from the University of North Carolina: lefty Andrew Miller and right-hander Daniel Bard. Both are listed among the top 15 prospects by Baseball America. Baseball America reported the Orioles are interested in Bard, and projected the Royals will take Miller with the No. 1 overall pick.
“They are both pitchers with very good arms. When they are right, they can dominate a lineup, absolutely,” Jordan said. “They are both attractive, come Tuesday.”
Unlike last year, there doesn?t appear to be as many area prospects ready to make the leap to pro baseball.
“There?s a lot more pitching in this draft this year,” Orioles scout Dean Albany said. “There are some great players out there, but it?s not as deep as last year.”
Albany added he is confident the Orioles will continue to progress with its player development under Jordan and Director of Minor League Operations Dave Stockstill.
“They?ve done a great job,” Albany said. “All you have to do is look at the players we took last year and see what type of immediate impact they?ve had in the minors.”
DRAFT DAY
» The draft begins at 1 p.m. today in New York, via a conference call. It will conclude Wednesday.
» After the ninth pick, the Orioles next selection is at No. 32, a supplemental pick for the loss of B.J. Ryan to the Blue Jays. The Orioles pick in the second round (53rd overall) went to San Diego in exchange for the signing of catcher Ramon Hernandez. The Orioles also get Toronto?s second-round pick (58th overall) for the signing of Ryan. The Orioles will pick ninth in each round after that.
» Other possible local picks include Seth Overbey (University of Maryland), Adam Heffron (Hammond High, Towson University) and Steve Bumbry (Dulaney High). Bumbry has signed with Virginia Tech.
» Rowell, the New Jersey prospect, played at Ripken Stadium last August in the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic. He is listed at 6-foot-4, 198 pounds.
Staff writers David Driver and Sean Welsh contributed to this article.
