The Orioles selected Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman with the first overall pick in the MLB draft on Monday night.
Rutschman is a 6-foot-2, 216-pound well-rounded catcher. He is a switch-hitter who hits for average and power. He also is advanced defensively, possessing above-average arm strength and solid blocking and receiving skills.
Rutschman, a Golden Spikes Award finalist, hit .411 with 17 home runs and 58 RBIs this spring. He also drew 76 walks compared to 38 strikeouts.
The assigned slot value for the No. 1 overall pick is $8,415,300. This is the second time the Orioles have held the top pick in the draft.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for four years. He’s interviewed 133 of the top draft prospects in that period, including three No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today and The Arizona Republic, have quoted his work, while he’s appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
