Tracking the 2018 Draft: Baltimore Orioles

The next team in our Tracking the Draft series is the Baltimore Orioles. Between the trade-deadline deals and the recent selections in this year’s MLB Draft, Orioles fans might be looking at the top-prospects list next spring and questioning: Who are these guys?

Here’s a quick look at which of their draft selections slid into MLB Pipeline’s Top-30.

No. 5 Grayson Rodriguez (RHP)

• 1st Round; 11th overall — Central Heights HS (TX)

No. 10 Cadyn Grenier (SS)

• Competitive Balance A; 37th overall — Oregon State

No. 11 Blaine Knight (RHP)

• 3rd Round; 87th overall — Arkansas

No. 29 Robert Neustrom (OF)

• 5th Round; 145th overall — Iowa

Notes:

Playing for the GCL Orioles, Rodriguez has posted a 1.65 ERA over eight appearances, in 16.1 innings. Although he’s still waiting to record his first professional victory, the 18-year-old right-hander can already reach 98-99 mph with his fastball.

After being assigned to the Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds, Grenier struggled in his first taste of pro ball. On August 13 his batting line dropped to .167/.280/.265. However, on the bright side, he enters play on Tuesday night in the midst of a 6-for-18 streak over his last five games.

Knight had a spectacular junior year at Arkansas. One that ended after the Razorbacks fell short against Grenier and the Oregon State Beavers. His pro career began just recently, in the New York-Penn League. Over his first two appearances (3.1 innings), opponents are hitting .410 against the 23-year-old righty.

Playing alongside Knight, for the Aberdeen Ironbirds, Neustrom has put up a .257/.298/.374 slash line over his first 49 games. He’s settled in quite a bit — after striking out 13 times in 52 June at-bats — and has posted a .333 average in August while fanning only seven times in 54 at-bats.

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