There is no doubt about it: the 2019 Orioles, just like the 2018 version, were a very, very, terribly, ugly baseball team. Bad enough to earn the second overall pick in the upcoming MLB 2020 Draft.
The current roster is a mess and there are plenty of holes throughout that have not been plugged by any of the minor league Norfolk promotions. Because of that, it is understandable that excitement for the near future is in short supply. Even Ryan Mountcastle and Keegan Akin were not enough to provide more than fading amounts of optimism around the team.
With that being said, the 2020 MLB Draft is shaping up to be an incredibly deep one with any number of mock drafts (like our own version 3.0) putting a varying amount of possibilities out there about who is going to go in the top five.
But, we have a pretty good feeling that the Orioles are going to land:
- Eddie Murray Baltimore Orioles
2020 MLB Mock Draft: Austin Martin
In year two of a massive rebuild in Baltimore, the safe-hitting Austin Martin, 2B from Vanderbilt University, who is being compared to Alex Bregman makes a lot of sense for the Orioles. He has an extremely high-end production along with playing a multitude of positions which undoubtedly appeals to the Baltimore front office. He is also likely to be the first hitter off of the board, as most scouts have acknowledged that there is little to no gap or concern in his hitting profile.
Martin had an outstanding freshman season, winning all of the major awards and also hit double-digit doubles. As a second-year play, he improved even more. He gained more power, hitting more doubles than his first season. He also hit ten home runs, earning the SEC batting title with an average of .406.
Scouts are in love with his quick, compact, right-handed swing that is built to make contact. As well, he has played a few different positions. Scouts have also noted his team-centered, high-character personality.
2020 MLB Mock Draft: Austin Martin Video Highlights
Great swing by Austin Martin. #2020MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/PvJTzXnFQc
— Josh Nelson (@soxmachine_josh) June 25, 2019
Take this swing from Austin Martin and inject it into my veins. pic.twitter.com/9lS9hKWlp7
— Josh Norris (@jnorris427) July 9, 2019
Austin Martin is a ninja pic.twitter.com/L9ca5AijRu
— Christian D’Andrea (@TrainIsland) June 9, 2019
- Cal Ripken Jr Baltimore Orioles
Other 2020 MLB Draft Coverage
AL East:
- MLB Mock Draft: New York Yankees
- MLB Mock Draft: Tampa Bay Devil Rays
- MLB Mock Draft: Boston Red Sox
- MLB Mock Draft: Baltimore Orioles
- MLB Mock Draft: Toronto Blue Jays
AL Central:
- MLB Mock Draft: Minnesota Twins
- MLB Mock Draft: Cleveland Indians
- MLB Mock Draft: Chicago White Sox
- MLB Mock Draft: Kansas City Royals
- MLB Mock Draft: Detroit Tigers
More MLB Mock Draft Information:
