2019 Draft recap: O's take Rutschman
Oregon State catcher goes first overall to help Baltimore rebuild
Adley Rutschman sets up as Baltimore's most exciting catching prospect since Matt Wieters.
(Karl Maasdam/Oregon State Athletics)
SECAUCUS, New Jersey -- It was Opening Day of a whole other kind Monday.The professional careers of 78 amateur players began when high-school and college players from the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada were selected from the first, second, competitive-balance and compensation rounds. They still have to sign their
SECAUCUS, New Jersey -- It was Opening Day of a whole other kind Monday.
The professional careers of 78 amateur players began when high-school and college players from the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada were selected from the first, second, competitive-balance and compensation rounds. They still have to sign their first professional contracts to make everything official, but for all intents and purposes, Monday represented the first step on the 1,000-mile journeys of their careers.
Here's a breakdown of the top picks made in the first round of the 2019 Draft:
First round
1. Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman, catcher, Oregon State -- The rebuilding Orioles went with the top overall talent in this year's Draft, taking the switch-hitting backstop at No. 1 overall. Rutschman was the first catcher taken in the top spot since Joe Mauer in 2001 and automatically became the face of Baltimore's rebuilding efforts. He earned that by showing off advanced abilities across the board, including for hit, power, arm and glove tools -- a rare combination for modern catchers. Rutschman produced a .411/.575/.751 slash line with 17 homers, 38 strikeouts and 76 walks in 57 games during his final season at Corvallis. Together with his defensive ability, Rutschman should play a big role in making Baltimore a contender again.
"I really like the leadership at the top," Rutschman said on the MLB Network broadcast about joining the Orioles. "I think they're going to be heading in a great direction, and I'm just really excited to be playing for them."
2. Kansas City Royals: Bobby Witt Jr., shortstop, Colleyville Heritage (Texas) High School -- There were even stronger links to the Royals and Witt than between the Orioles and Rutschman, and Kansas City got its man at No. 2. (It's not difficult to picture the Royals war room running to the phone to send in the Witt pick the moment it could.) The son of the former Major League pitcher of the same name, Witt also is tooled up at another premium position at shortstop. He's a plus runner with a good arm and good range at that position, and his power has long been considered above-average. There are some holes in his swing, and the hit tool kept him from jumping past Rutschman. But the Texas native has the makings of an elite shortstop, and the Royals will be happy to watch him flourish in their system in short order.
3. Chicago White Sox: Andrew Vaughn, first baseman, California -- Right-handed-batting, right-handed-throwing first basemen have to really hit if they're going to provide value, especially this high. Good news for South Siders: Vaughn can really hit. The Cal slugger won the Golden Spikes Award as a sophomore last year and followed that up by hitting .381/.544/.716 with 15 homers in 52 games this spring. There might be even more power there as well as he moves up the chain toward Chicago. That's it for plus tools, however. Vaughn is likely to stick at first base as a pro, and his speed doesn't provide value either. Still, he should replace the soon-to-graduate
4. Miami Marlins: JJ Bleday, outfielder, Vanderbilt -- The Marlins can't afford to miss with their highest pick since 2014 (when they took
5. Detroit Tigers: Riley Greene, outfielder, Hagerty (Florida) High School -- The Tigers system is notably pitcher-heavy at the moment, but grabbing Greene should mix up the rankings at the top of the system a bit. The left-handed slugger is known primarily for his plus hit tool, which he's shown off on big stages while playing internationally for Team USA. But at 6-foot-1, 191 pounds, he has the potential to grow into plus power as well. He'll need it if he sticks in left field, where many think he's headed due to a below-average arm. The Tigers are betting on the bat here, and if all goes well, it shouldn't be long before Greene is the most exciting hitter in the pipeline to Detroit.
6. San Diego Padres: CJ Abrams, shortstop, Blessed Trinity Catholic (Georgia) High School -- Abrams became the second prep shortstop of the Draft, but his profile is markedly different than that of Witt, a former Team USA teammate. The 18-year-old's loudest tool at present is his plus-plus speed, and he has shown above-average hitting ability from the left side. His power is a question mark, and he could end up moving to center field or second base if he doesn't improve defensively at short. The Padres should give him plenty of slack to stick at short, and if it comes together, he'll be of value there, along with his potential home at the top of a Major League lineup.
7. Cincinnati Reds: Nick Lodolo, left-handed pitcher, TCU -- Lodolo was the first pitcher taken in 2019 -- making it the longest run of position players at the top in Draft history. He was picked 41st overall by the Pirates in the 2016 Draft, but decided to go the college route instead -- a gamble that paid off three years later. The 6-foot-6 southpaw possesses three above-average pitches in his fastball, slider and changeup and shows good control as well. Add in his size and handedness, and Lodolo ticks all the boxes for a promising college arm. Advancing one of his offerings from above-average to plus levels could help him make another jump to the pros.
8. Texas Rangers: Josh Jung, third baseman, Texas Tech -- Jung has been a consistently productive hitter since he stepped on campus in Lubbock, and while his numbers dropped some this spring from his All-American form in 2018, he still hit .340/.478/.608 with 11 homers in 57 games. Batting from the right side, he is expected to continue to be above-average at the plate with his hit and power tools once he moves to the pros. Jung also possesses the plus arm to make third base work, even if he won't stand out in other defensive areas. The advanced bat could make him a quick mover, and he should supplant
9. Atlanta Braves: Shea Langeliers, catcher, Baylor -- The 21-year-old backstop is known primarily for his defensive work after winning the 2018 Rawlings/ABCA Gold Glove award at his position. His arm is especially impressive, earning a 70 grade from MLB.com, and his receiving could be used quite a bit in the modern game the way that skill is being valued these days. But he also has a good enough bat to keep his offensive skills in the discussion. He notably homered three times and drove in 11 runs in a regional game over the weekend. Langeliers finished with a .308/.374/.530 line and 10 homers in his final season with the Bears. Still, he will primarily drive up the Braves' chain because of his defense.
10. San Francisco Giants: Hunter Bishop, outfielder, Arizona State -- Bishop has two plus tools in his arsenal, and they might be the two most exciting in baseball for a position player -- power and speed. The Sun Devil hit .344/.482/.757 with 22 homers and 12 steals in 56 games this spring. He has plenty of size at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds -- which is good for power -- but he is expected to stick in center field on account of the plus speed. His overall hit tool will be challenged in the pros, though. Still, he should have a decent idea of what to expect after brother Braden reached the Majors this season with the Mariners.
11. Toronto Blue Jays: Alek Manoah, right-handed pitcher, West Virginia -- Manoah's original breakout came in the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he starred as a starter, and he's carried that to his junior season in Morgantown, posting a 2.08 ERA with 144 strikeouts and 27 walks in 108 1/3 innings. He works primarily off a mid- to upper-90s fastball and an above-average slider, and those two pitches have been enough to dominate college-level bats. He'll need to make his changeup more of a weapon to stick as a starter instead of returning to the bullpen, where he spent parts of his first two collegiate seasons. There's even hope the 6-foot-6 hurler could break out further the more he starts. Jays fans can dream of a day when Manoah and
12. New York Mets: Brett Baty, third baseman, Lake Travis (Texas) High School -- Baty is almost like Jung without the track record, which can be a good and bad thing. The good -- he's already a gifted power hitter from the left side, and even at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, he could stand to add more pop as he grows comfortable on the pro side. He also possesses a strong arm and has shown enough defensive growth that the Mets should consider him a third baseman for a bit longer, rather than immediately moving him to first. The bad -- he doesn't have the college track record of his hot-corner brethren and will need more development time to reach his ceiling. Still, there's enough there to dream on Baty and
"I think of Christian Yelich, the way he sinks into his back side," Baty said, when asked of who he tries to emulate. "Joey Votto is also one because of his plate discipline and stuff like that. All of them. I also like Adrian Beltre because of the way he played the game. I'm just happy to be here."
13. Minnesota Twins: Keoni Cavaco, third baseman, Eastlake (California) High School -- Cavaco might not have been on the short list to become a first-rounder nine months ago, given how few showcases he was invited to last summer, but he worked his way here on the strength (literally) of his plus power potential from the right side. He also possesses a strong arm and good glove at third base. What makes his profile even more exciting is he's a plus runner, which isn't often seen at the corner infield spots. His biggest question mark surrounds the hit tool as Cavaco has shown some holes in his swing, even when he hasn't been tested by tough pitching. Still, there's little doubt his stock was on the rise heading into June, and the Twins could be getting him in a good time for his development, making him a part of their farm core next to
14. Philadelphia Phillies: Bryson Stott, shortstop, UNLV -- Those looking for a shortstop starter kit could do worse than copying Stott's profile. The 21-year-old's best tool is his overall hitting ability, as evidenced by his .356 average. He is also an above-average runner (16 steals) and improved his defensive work at the premium position to show above-average potential with both his glove and arm. The power was a question mark coming into the spring, but even that has improved as he went from four homers in 2018 to 10 this season. If he can make the power an average skill, Stott should be very well-rounded at one of the toughest spots on the diamond. It's likely he'll fit in next to 2018 first-rounder
15. Los Angeles Angels: Will Wilson, shortstop, NC State -- Wilson is steady across the board, and there is value in that coming from a premium position at short. An impressive hitter in college, the 20-year-old hit .335/.425/.661 with 16 homers as a junior at North Carolina State, showing off power atypical of his spot on the field. He still may be just an average all-around hitter in the pros, but he also should provide value as a steady defender, either at short or right next door at second. His below-average speed may move him over, but if he can keep up this production at short, his stock only will grow in the pro ranks.
16. Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll, outfielder, Lakeside (Washington) High School -- Carroll drew a lot of raves for his ability to hit from the left side when he showed up on showcase circuits last summer, and his bat is considered to have plus potential as a result. His speed might be even better than his bat, coming in with a 70 grade from MLB.com, and that should make him a good defensive center fielder, even if his arm isn't at the same level as his glove. At 5-foot-11, 161 pounds, Carroll still has something to prove in the power department, but there are plenty of examples of hitters who have grown into pop once they hit the pros.
17. Washington Nationals: Jackson Rutledge, right-handed pitcher, San Jacinto (Texas) Junior College -- The first thing that stands out about Rutledge is his size: 6-foot-8. The next thing, his mid- to high-90s fastball. After that, his plus slider. That's what Washington considered when taking the 20-year-old here. Rutledge, who went to Arkansas as a freshman, is trying to follow in the footsteps of Pearson, another high-octane junior-college arm who became a Top-100 prospect for the way his game has translated to the pro side. Rutledge has the opportunity (and the stuff) to make a similar transition.
"It was a lot of maturity that I gained, a lot of knowledge on the game," Rutledge said about his growth. "I got to do an internship [at sport science company P3] that helped me out a lot. Growing up, having to go to a junior college really boosted my motivation to work harder. I learned a lot about myself."
18. Pittsburgh Pirates: Quinn Priester, right-handed pitcher, Cary-Grove (Illinois) High School -- Priester throws two fastballs that stand out -- a four-seamer in the upper 90s and a two-seamer with movement -- along with a plus curveball. That package makes him the top prep pitcher taken in this Draft, all the way down here at No. 18. Like most high schoolers, he'll need to develop his changeup, but the Bucs are banking that that will come in time. With
19. St. Louis Cardinals: Zack Thompson, left-hander, Kentucky -- Similar to Lodolo, Thompson gets points for having multiple above-average pitches (in this case -- fastball, slider and curve) as well as being as left-handed with good size at 6-foot-3. All of that translated quite well to Kentucky, where he was second-team All-SEC as a junior and posted a 2.40 ERA with 130 strikeouts in 90 innings this spring. Thompson's injury history is a bit of a concern. He had shoulder issues in high school, failed a post-Draft medical with the Rays in 2016 and missed time with an elbow injury last year. That wasn't enough to scare off the Cardinals, though this was a little lower than expected for the former Wildcat.
20. Seattle Mariners: George Kirby, right-handed pitcher, Elon -- The 21-year-old right-hander has a deep arsenal featuring a plus fastball and an above-average curveball and slider. But what jumps out most is his downright elite control. Kirby struck out 107 and walked six in 88 1/3 innings this spring, leading NCAA Division I hurlers with a 17.83 K/BB ratio. (Second place was Nebraska's Matt Waldron at 11.71.) It's that ability to fill up the zone -- while missing bats -- that Seattle is betting on here with a second straight college pitcher in the first round after selecting
21. Atlanta Braves: Braden Shewmake, shortstop, Texas A&M -- The first team to pick twice in 2019, the Braves went to the deep college shortstop well with Shewmake, an above-average overall hitter. The Aggies infielder hit .313/.374/.474 with six homers and nine steals as a junior. His arm is also considered above-average, but it's more of a steady profile than a standout one. At 6-foot-4, he isn't guaranteed to stick to short, but the Braves should try to keep him there considering their top prospect at the position is Tony Graffanino at No. 21.
22. Tampa Bay Rays:
23. Colorado Rockies: Michael Toglia, first baseman, UCLA -- Plus power. Think that will play in a Rockies system that boasts launching pads at Grand Junction, Asheville, Lancaster, Hartford and Albuquerque? That's what Toglia has to look forward to after signing with the Rockies. The 20-year-old junior slugged 16 homers this spring for the Bruins while batting .319/.392/.633 in 59 games. Though not more than an average runner, Toglia also is considered a plus defender with a good arm and could move to the outfield on the pro side. If he doesn't, the pressure on the power to come through will jump up a tick.
24. Cleveland Indians: Daniel Espino, right-handed pitcher, Georgia Premier Academy -- One of the most fascinating talents in the 2019 Draft is headed to Cleveland. Espino moved to the United States from his native Panama as a teenager and took off in the Peach State, showing plus-plus velocity while touching triple-digits at times. He also shows a plus slider and an above-average curve. However, the 18-year-old is still raw, and his delivery can get too lengthy, bringing plenty of risk to his flash. But if all clicks, he might have the highest ceiling of the pitchers taken this year. Also of note, this is the fifth Draft in a row in which Cleveland's first pick came from the prep ranks.
"This is a dream come true," Espino said. "When I was 10, I made the decision to leave home because of the purpose and the destiny I think I had. When I was 15, I did it again, and this goes to show the sacrifices that me and my family had made [paid off]."
25. Los Angeles Dodgers: Kody Hoese, third baseman, Tulane -- The Dodgers must have been impressed by Hoese's power surge this spring as the right-handed slugger finished tied for fourth in Division I with 23 homers after parking only five between his sophomore and freshman campaigns. He was a 35th-round pick last year as a sophomore, but jumped up 34 rounds in 12 months. His arm is good enough to keep him at third, but that's the end of his above-average abilities. Keeping the power train going into pro ball should be Hoese's biggest ticker in his new system.
26. Arizona Diamondbacks: Blake Walston, left-handed pitcher, New Hanover (North Carolina) High School -- Walston is only 17, with a birthday coming later this month. His best pitch at present is his plus curve, but his fastball can earn above-average grades when he throws in the low 90s with movement. He has had difficulty maintaining that velocity, however. The best thing about Walston is that he measures in at 6-foot-4, 172 pounds, meaning he has plenty of projectability left. Ranked as MLB.com's No. 52 Draft prospect, his selection could be a cost-saving move for the D-backs in search of a tougher-to-sign pick further down.
27. Chicago Cubs: Ryan Jensen, right-handed pitcher, Fresno State -- If Walston was a surprise at 26th overall, Jensen -- MLB.com's No. 99 Draft prospect -- was even more so here. The 21-year-old right-hander is known primarily for his velocity, checking in at the upper 90s deeper into his starts. His slider and changeup are average at best, however, and he could struggle with control against more experienced bats due to a high-effort delivery. It can be tough to add velocity, so the Cubs must be hoping they can mold other parts of Jensen's game if they were willing to take him this high.
28. Milwaukee Brewers: Ethan Small, left-handed pitcher, Mississippi State -- The 22-year-old southpaw already has Tommy John surgery on his ledger, having missed the entire 2017 season due to the elbow procedure, but he returned nicely the past two seasons and popped in here as a redshirt junior. Small posted a 1.88 ERA with 160 strikeouts (second-most in NCAA) and 27 walks in 96 innings on the strength of his above-average fastball and changeup. With No. 6
29. Oakland Athletics: Logan Davidson, shortstop, Clemson -- As a college performer, Davidson ticked all the boxes as a hitter. Davidson hit .291/.412/.574 with 15 homers in 61 games this spring for the Tigers. However, the switch-hitter had a rough trip through the wood-bat Cape Cod League last summer -- he ranked last among qualifiers with a .194 average over 38 games -- and that brought along questions about how his game will translate to the pros. Otherwise, he has good defensive skills with the glove and arm at short and has above-average speed to use there and on the basepaths. The A's likely will focus on making Davidson show his Cape time was just one bad hitting summer, instead of something more indicative of his offensive potential.
30. New York Yankees: Anthony Volpe, shortstop, Delbarton (New Jersey) High School -- Volpe became the eighth shortstop off the board, but the first from the prep ranks since Abrams at sixth overall. Volpe stands out most for his above-average speed and good hands at shortstop, but those who are high on him (including the Yankees) believe his hit tool could be an asset as he matures. A former Team USA standout, Volpe will be a moldable prospect in pinstripes.
31. Los Angeles Dodgers: Michael Busch, first baseman/second baseman, North Carolina -- This was an interesting one because Busch was announced as a second baseman in the Draft room, but has been known primarily as a first baseman in college with some outfield experience mixed in. Offensively, he's above-average in both hit and power tools as evidenced by a .290/.441/.567 line with 16 homers, 58 walks and 37 strikeouts in 62 games this spring. The Dodgers obviously want that bat in their lineups, and considering Busch's below-average arm but decent athletic ability, he could make second base work.
32. Houston Astros: Korey Lee, catcher, California -- Lee gave the Golden Bears two early picks as he rounded out the first round by going to the Astros. Lee actually hit as many home runs as Vaughn this spring (15) and showed a good bat with a .338/.419/.626 line, though unlike Vaughn, he did strike out more than he walked. He is also electric with his arm behind the plate. The plaudits end there. Lee has work to do with his receiving to stick behind the plate, and as a 30-grade runner, he doesn't have the athletic ability to be a great candidate to move elsewhere. Still, power and a good arm could be enough to make him stand out as a catcher in the modern game.
other 2019 MLB first-year player Draft selections
Sam Dykstra is a reporter for MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @SamDykstraMiLB.