Been looking at some mock drafts as of late...

[ChaosLex]

I'm by no means an expert on the draft like Stotle, allstar, etc., but I've liked everything I've read thus far about Mark Appel, Lucas Giolito, Byron Buxton, Michael Wacha and Deven Marrero, all of whom should be drafted (barring injury) in the top 10, if not the top 5.

Marrero might seem like overkill considering we have Machado, but from what I've heard, he's the best fielding SS to come out in sometime. If Machado is destined for a position other than SS, we couldn't do much better.

Buxton is an OFer that's already drawing some comparisons to the Upton Brothers. If he's drafted by Seattle, it's said that he'll be their best OF prospect since Ken Griffey Jr.

Appel is arguably the top college pitcher available, but I'm hearing good things about Wacha as well, who's said to have superb command.

Giolito is an absolute beast and will likely follow in Taillon and Bundy's footsteps, and be the first prep pitcher drafted this year.

Should be a fun draft this year.

[RVAbird]

I'm by no means an expert on the draft like Stotle, allstar, etc., but I've liked everything I've read thus far about Mark Appel, Lucas Giolito, Byron Buxton, Michael Wacha and Deven Marrero, all of whom should be drafted (barring injury) in the top 10, if not the top 5.

Marrero might seem like overkill considering we have Machado, but from what I've heard, he's the best fielding SS to come out in sometime. If Machado is destined for a position other than SS, we couldn't do much better.

Buxton is an OFer that's already drawing some comparisons to the Upton Brothers. If he's drafted by Seattle, it's said that he'll be their best OF prospect since Ken Griffey Jr.

Appel is arguably the top college pitcher available, but I'm hearing good things about Wacha as well, who's said to have superb command.

Giolito is an absolute beast and will likely follow in Taillon and Bundy's footsteps, and be the first prep pitcher drafted this year.

Should be a fun draft this year.

All good names to follow, but I think it's way too early to start slotting the top 5. My guess is that maybe two of these kids go in the top 5. At this point Giolito and Appel do appear to be at the top of the prep and college pitcher lists, respectively.

[allstar1579]

All good names to follow, but I think it's way too early to start slotting the top 5. My guess is that maybe two of these kids go in the top 5. At this point Giolito and Appel do appear to be at the top of the prep and college pitcher lists, respectively.

Yeah agree with this. It's a good list to start watching, but I wouldn't try to bother ranking until you get half way through this season in like late April/May.

I liked Marrero coming out of HS, really impressed me in the UA game a few years back, the glove is super legit, but the bat has some questions. Could end up being similar to Bordick or Vizquel though.

Appel is the one I'm smitten with right now as far as pitchers go. I like talented Stanford RHP though. Giolito looks impressive early, but I'm kinda expecting a little more growth from last year to this one, just nature of HS kids and development, it's the time where you can see a little more filling out, I'll be interested to see what happens physically and what it does to his stuff.

I'll be following them all more closely this year, I might even do some writing on them for another site this year.

[ChaosLex]

Yeah agree with this. It's a good list to start watching, but I wouldn't try to bother ranking until you get half way through this season in like late April/May.

I liked Marrero coming out of HS, really impressed me in the UA game a few years back, the glove is super legit, but the bat has some questions. Could end up being similar to Bordick or Vizquel though.

Appel is the one I'm smitten with right now as far as pitchers go. I like talented Stanford RHP though. Giolito looks impressive early, but I'm kinda expecting a little more growth from last year to this one, just nature of HS kids and development, it's the time where you can see a little more filling out, I'll be interested to see what happens physically and what it does to his stuff.

I'll be following them all more closely this year, I might even do some writing on them for another site this year.

In your opinion, is there anything to the Buxton-Upton comps?

[allstar1579]

In your opinion, is there anything to the Buxton-Upton comps?

Hate comps this time of year...but Nick would know better than I. I've seen a LITTLE bit of him, and heard a lot about him, but my source may be a little biased. I was going to dig into him more this spring.

I hate to say it, but if you want to get into the comp game, he reminds me a bit of Givens. Like I said though, don't hold me to that until I have a chance to really look at him. It's just the athleticism and 94mph FB that make me think that. I'd imagine he's got a better bat, but I haven't seen him hit yet.

[allstar1579]

Talked to someone else who told me to believe in the bat, really good power, and got the bat head around on a hard inside FB that was 90+ for a line drive. Commitment to GA who is supposedly going to let him play QB and baseball there, so that could be something to keep an eye on.

[ChaosLex]

Giolito hit 100 on the radar gun the other night. Wow!

I'm guessing both him an Appel will be gone before we pick though. Lord knows the Astros, Twins and M's could all use more pitching.

[allstar1579]

Giolito hit 100 on the radar gun the other night. Wow!

I'm guessing both him an Appel will be gone before we pick though. Lord knows the Astros, Twins and M's could all use more pitching.

Appel has been getting knocked around a little bit to start the year. Not super concerned there have been some circumstances behind some of it, but it's got my attention a little bit.

Not O's pick area, but I think I'm going to go catch a couple UMD games in the next couple of weeks and see what they have in the water for that pitching staff.

[RVAbird]

Lucas Giolito sprained his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow yesterday. His timeline for rehabilitation is 6-10 weeks, so he is likely done for the season. Right now, he no longer appears to be a candidate to go in the top 5. He has some options, so we'll see how things unfold.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/varsitytimesinsider/2012/03/baseball-lucas-giolito-hurts-elbow-might-be-lost-for-season.html

[allstar1579]

Lucas Giolito sprained his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow yesterday. His timeline for rehabilitation is 6-10 weeks, so he is likely done for the season. Right now, he no longer appears to be a candidate to go in the top 5. He has some options, so we'll see how things unfold.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/varsitytimesinsider/2012/03/baseball-lucas-giolito-hurts-elbow-might-be-lost-for-season.html

With the way the salary goes now, I suspect he's headed to UCLA and will shoot for no. 1 overall in 2015. The top of the draft just got much more interesting. Que the Buxton/Delmon Young comparisons...

[Oriolidae85]

I'm by no means an expert on the draft like Stotle, allstar, etc., but I've liked everything I've read thus far about Mark Appel, Lucas Giolito, Byron Buxton, Michael Wacha and Deven Marrero, all of whom should be drafted (barring injury) in the top 10, if not the top 5.

Marrero might seem like overkill considering we have Machado, but from what I've heard, he's the best fielding SS to come out in sometime. If Machado is destined for a position other than SS, we couldn't do much better.

Buxton is an OFer that's already drawing some comparisons to the Upton Brothers. If he's drafted by Seattle, it's said that he'll be their best OF prospect since Ken Griffey Jr.

Appel is arguably the top college pitcher available, but I'm hearing good things about Wacha as well, who's said to have superb command.

Giolito is an absolute beast and will likely follow in Taillon and Bundy's footsteps, and be the first prep pitcher drafted this year.

Should be a fun draft this year.

The O's recently observed Buston in a work out, per Shmuck:

Buxton works out for O's

The Orioles worked out projected top-five high school prospect Byron Buxton early Sunday at Ed Smith Stadium. Buxton, a two-sport star at Appling County High School in Baxley, Ga., could still be available when the Orioles pick fourth in the June draft, but there?s a lot of buzz that the Mariners will take him with the third pick.

How often does this happen pre-draft in MLB and for the Orioles, specifically? Do not recall ever reading anything a team working out a HS player pre-draft while following the Orioles. Thanks for all the insight on this board!

[Stotle]

The O's recently observed Buston in a work out, per Shmuck:

How often does this happen pre-draft in MLB and for the Orioles, specifically? Do not recall ever reading anything a team working out a HS player pre-draft while following the Orioles. Thanks for all the insight on this board!

Happens all the time.

[Oriolidae85]

Happens all the time.

Definitely not quitting my day job (after reading this: ). Did the O's work out Dylan Bundy, Machado, Hobgood, Rowell and Snyder this early?

[Oriolidae85]

While looking up the answer my previous question, found this little tidbit from Tony re: Rowell's pick on draft day:

To me this pick is a need pick since college right-hander Tim Lincecum was still on the board and to me, he was one of the top five players in the draft. Lincecum was drafted a pick later.

Sure this has been pointed out before on the board, but it was interesting to run into.

Getting back to the thread discussion, I do not recall the O's every working out a HS prospect in March before (the draft). Will keep searching, but would assume picks like Snyder did not need a workout given their location. My curiosity point on this...are the Orioles being more proactive in the amateur draft?

[Stotle]

Definitely not quitting my day job (after reading this: ). Did the O's work out Dylan Bundy, Machado, Hobgood, Rowell and Snyder this early?

Don't know the specifics re: Baltimore, other than I do recall Hobgood was worked out in May before the draft.

My org worked out a bunch of kids at the end of the summer -- will be inviting more back throughout the spring.