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For the first time, an Oregon State Beaver has been taken first in the MLB Draft. The Baltimore Orioles confirmed everyone’s inclination by taking catcher Adley Rutschman with the first overall pick.
With the 1st pick of the 2019 #MLBDraft, the @Orioles select @BeaverBaseball catcher Adley Rutschman: https://t.co/OHooNdL3XW pic.twitter.com/4dUcbvOrcU
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 3, 2019
Rutschman has a long list of awards and records after his three years at OSU. He was this year’s Pac-12 Player of the Year, has been a First Team All American twice, and was last year’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player.
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His stats are incredible. 237 total hits and 28 home runs. 17 of those homers this season. He drew 156 walks in his career, and 76 this season. That’s great control, but it’s worth pointing out that 26 of those walks this year were intentional. Such is the fear of Rutschman that he even drew multiple bases loaded intentional walks. That fear is absolutely justified, because if you give Adley an ‘At Bat’ with the bases full, he does this.
Rutschman was regarded by many as the most talented hitting prospect since Bryce Harper in 2010. It was almost a foregone conclusion that he would be the No. 1 overall pick and despite some last minute speculation that the Orioles might go in a different direction; it’s official Adley Rutschman is the first pick in the 2019 MLB Draft.