Fangraphs Analysis of our Draft

[freethebirds]

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Number of Top 10 Picks Signed: 8.

Highest Bonus Awarded: Manny Machado, Florida HS, ss, 3rd overall.

College/HS Breakdown of Top 10 Signees: 4 college, 4 HS, 2 JC.

Pitcher/Hitter Breakdown: 4/6.

Notable Performances Thus Far: Not much of the draft class has started playing, but the team’s Aberdeen affiliate (in the New York-Penn League) has two names to which you should pay attention. Fourth-round pick Trent Mummey has been a regular since being drafted, and will reach about 300 professional plate appearances by the time the summer ends. For now, he has posted a .349 wOBA, with more ability shown in plate discipline than power potential. The team recently added a solid reliever in Clayton Schrader, the Orioles 10th round pick, who received an above-slot bonus to deter him from going to Oklahoma. Schrader has pitched five scoreless innings for the IronBirds, striking out 6.

Thoughts: Without a second-round pick this season, the Orioles were able to not worry about bonus demands from their third overall pick, Manny Machado. Despite his Twitter jokings with Bryce Harper, it was clear Machado would always sign, and this draft class would always be defined by his play. The team, however, does have six other players that earned more than a quarter-million bonus, including their eighth, ninth and, tenth-round picks. I even really like Matt Bywater, the seventh-round lefty from Pepperdine that signed for pretty cheap. This draft doesn’t have a sure thing, maybe with the exception of Mummey, but it is loaded with potential.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/2010-draft-review-al-east/

[NCRaven]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/2010-draft-review-al-east/

I assume the article meant we don't have a sure thing after Machado with the posssible exception of Mummey. But, even so, I don't get it. I think Klein is more of a sure thing than Mummey, even if neither is really "sure."