The Orioles have selected Manny Machado. Here is his profile:
Manny Machado Position: SS School: Brito Private HS State: FL Height: 6’3’’ Weight: 190
Bats: R Throws: R Birth Date: 7/6/92 Seiler Rating: 1B3 Commitment: Florida International
Manny Machado is an electric shortstop from Brito Private High School in Hialeah, Florida, which is just outside Miami. Machado has been on the prospect scene for a number of years, but it wasn’t until about a year ago that he really started getting noticed as a potential impact player in this draft class. Seen as part of the pack that included shortstops Yordy Cabrera and Justin O’Conner entering last summer, he had separated himself by the end of the fall tournament season, and he’s only gone on to confirm that placement this spring. He has all the tools and makeup to become a perennial all star shortstop at the next level, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s making headlines across the Major Leagues. At the plate, he’s a plus hitter with average raw power, and those two tools together means he has some of the best offensive potential for a shortstop in all of baseball at this moment. Though he’s only an average runner underway, when that is combined with his hitting tools, he’s seen as an elite offensive player for an up-the-middle player. Defensively, he’s come a long way, and while many thought he’d have to move off the position last summer, he’s made enough strides this spring to consider him a possible above-average defender with a plus arm. One of the major drawbacks about him is his signability, and even though he’s expected to sign without any reservations, his adviser is Scott Boras, and his bonus is expected to be well above slot, even in the first five picks, where he’s expected to go.