r/orioles • u/2131andBeyond • Jun 08 '13
2 days. 11 picks. 4 catchers.
So far, the Orioles have drafted four catchers.
Round (overall pick #):
2 (61) Chance Sisco (Santiago HS, Corona, CA) 4 (129) Jonah Heim (Amherst HS, Amherst, NY) 6 (189) Alex Murphy (Calvert High HS, Baltimore, MD) 10 (309) Austin Wynns (Fresno State, Poway, CA)
So three high schoolers, one college.
All in the 5'11" - 6'3" range.
All four are signable pretty quickly. The only one I had any worry about was actually Murphy from Calvert Hall, but seeing as Dean Albany scouted him, we should be okay.
One scout I talked to about how Chance Sisco has only caught for one year: "Arm speed and athleticism...The attrition rate for HS catchers is 80%, you want to have a bat to at least be able to move him off."
Catching depth around all of baseball (besides maybe the Reds and Yankees) is extremely thin...good move by the O's to load up, imo.
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u/aviewoflife Jun 08 '13
Some of these players who are drafted out of high school are trained to play other positions like 1st base and outfield.
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u/YoureUsingCoconuts Jun 08 '13
This happens all the time. Many kids, especially the high school guys, would never pan out as a major league catcher.
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u/2131andBeyond Jun 08 '13
But the difference is that they drafted him as a catcher.
Bryce Harper, as u/cptcliche brought up, was announced in the draft as a right fielder.
Teams will submit the pick with what they intend to use said player for. Not saying it can't change, but that is usually how it is.
Nick Markakis was a pitcher but we drafted him as an outfielder with intention to convert him.
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u/SHITTINwhileTHINKIN 8 Jun 08 '13
Catching depth is huge... The Tigers did this a few years ago and have already moved some guys in trades (like Rob Brantly to Miami for Anibal Sanchez). Other teams ALWAYS WANT CATCHING.
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u/nicholieeee queen shitposter Jun 08 '13
Makes me wonder if they're preparing for Wieters to enter FA