2011 MLB Draft: Baltimore Orioles Review

2011 MLB Draft: Baltimore Orioles Review

Big splash at the top with Dylan Bundy, followed mostly by conservative traditional college picks with a couple of high school signability gambles.

1) Dylan Bundy, RHP, Oklahoma HS: Throws very hard, has great secondary pitches, throws strikes, knows what he's doing. Can't find any fault with this pick.

2) Jason Esposito, 3B, Vanderbilt: Excellent glove at third, bat draws mixed reviews which kept him from going earlier. Plate discipline spotty. Hit .357/.423/.560 with 15 steals, 17 BB, 41 K.

3) Matt Wright, RHP, East Carolina: Sinker/slider/groundball type, needs to improve changeup to remain a starter but throws strikes. 2.79 ERA, 75/30 K/BB in 100 innings, just two homers.   

4) Kyle Simon, RHP, Arizona: Like Wright, he keeps the ball down, throws strikes, and could develop into an inning-eater or a reliever. 2.72 ERA, 86/11 K/BB in 129 innings, just two homers.

5) Matt Taylor, LHP, Middle Georgia JC: Excellent stats with high strikeout rate, 90 MPH fastball, good changeup, breaking stuff needs some work.

6) Nick Delmonico, 3B-C, Tennessee HS: Will take second round money to sign away from Georgia. Power, strong throwing arm, first-round candidate early, stock dropped due to signability issue, erratic spring, as well as questions about long-term position.

7) Trent Howard, LHP, Central Michigan: Excellent command and control, velocity varies between 85 and 92 MPH, good changeup, curve, and slider. 2.78 ERA, 96/22 K/BB in 87 IP.

8) John Ruettiger, OF, Arizona State: Hits for average, runs very well, lacks power. Fourth outfielder profile. .332/.417/.398, zero homers, 34 walks, 23 steals.

9) Devin Jones, RHP, Mississippi State: Can hit 95 MPH and has a good slider, but spotty command hurt his college statistics. Good raw potential. 4.37 ERA, 49/26 K/BB in 60 IP.

10) Tyler Wilson, RHP, Virginia: Average stuff across the board, throws strikes, good performance for a top program. 2.34 ERA, 111/21 K/BB in 88 innings, 62 hits, just four homers.

OTHERS OF NOTE: C Adam Davis (11^th round, Illinois) has some pop in his bat and a chance to be a solid defender. OF Jason Coats (12^th round, TCU) has decent tools and a good track record of success with wooden bats; he could have gone several rounds higher. 3B Brad Roney (18^th round, Alabama HS) has a power bat and could have gone 15 rounds higher if not for a strong Southern Mississippi commitment.

SUMMARY: Bundy is the big star here, while Delmonico and Roney are intriguing high school bats who would be a nice boost for the system if signable. The rest of the class focused on solid-non-spectacular college guys, none of them projecting as stars but they should get at least some role players out of them. Bundy needs to live up to expectations.