When the Baltimore Orioles last had the MLB draft’s first pick, they selected a player viewed as the top prospect available and one who became a guiding force in their rebuild in catcher Adley Rutschman.
In taking Oklahoma high school shortstop Jackson Holliday in that spot three years later Sunday night, Baltimore passed on this year’s perceived top player. The organization will now hope Holliday will be just as much of a difference-maker as Rutschman, regardless.
Holliday, the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday, was considered one of the draft’s top prospects, ranked second by MLB Pipeline and third by Baseball America. But in drafting him, the Orioles avoided players ranked ahead of him, including Georgia high school outfielder Druw Jones, who both publications had as the class’s best player.
Still, Holliday becomes the first high school position player chosen with Baltimore’s first pick since Manny Machado in 2010. A left-handed hitter, he showed improved strength and speed in his senior season at Stillwater High School. Traceable to his father’s influence, Holliday has a tremendous approach at the plate and strong instincts as he set a national record for hits in a season, with hopes that he inherited power from his dad, as well.
More in-depth draft updates from the Valley News, which should include any of the top local prep players, as reported earlier this week, will come after the first night of the 2022 MLB Amateur Draft Sunday, July 17.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.Â
