The Orioles have signed second overall draft pick Heston Kjerstad, per a team announcement. The University of Arkansas product will receive a $5.2MM bonus, per MLB.com’s Jim Callis (Twitter link).
Kjerstad was expected to go near the top of the draft, but not with the second selection. The O’s obviously liked him quite a bit, but also saw an opportunity to save some bonus pool capacity to draft and sign other talented players in later rounds. The club was able to reapply over $2.5MM of the second overall slot value.
As things stand, the Orioles are known to have deals in place with five of their six selections. Jordan Westburg (30th overall) and Hudson Haskin (39th) secured at-slot bonuses. High schoolers Coby Mayo and Carter Baumler were lured with over-slot promises, though their deals aren’t yet official. That leaves Ole Miss infielder Anthony Servideo, the team’s third-round choice, left without a pact (so far as is publicly known).
Perhaps it’s easy to get caught up in the machinations and overlook Kjerstad’s own promise. While teams obviously see the appeal in spreading draft bonus pool availability over multiple players, they also aren’t generally inclined to spend premium draft choices on sub-premium talent.
All major draft pundits graded Kjerstad as one of the dozen or so top-available talents. Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs had the highest ranking, listing him in the seventh slot.
Most agree on the profile here. Kjerstad is seen as a solid right fielder with big potential at the plate. He was drubbing high-end college pitching (.448/.513/.791) when the 2020 season was suspended. There are some concerns over his complicated swing and proclivity to strike out, but obviously the consensus is that Kjerstad will grow into a quality offensive performer at the game’s highest level.
We will see if that strategy works. I think the orioles could regret passing on Asa Lacy. I like kjerstad and think he will be a fine left handed hitter. I just think lacy can be an ace.
especially given how much work they need to do on the pitching front for their rebuild
We have a couple of good pitching prospects in hall and Rodriguez. Disappointed we didn’t take a couple of pitchers in this draft
If you knew much about the O’s minor league system, you would know that much of their strength lies in pitching depth. Number 2 and 3, along 7 of the top 12 and 17 of their top 30 (mlb dot com ratings),
I’m aware of the orioles minor league system. We drafted 1 pi pitcher on the first 5 rounds this year and we drafted the first pitcher in the 8th round last year. We did manage to draft 5 shortstops in the first 5 rounds of the past two drafts.
It’s usually much easier to develop hitters than pitchers, though. The attrition rate on pitching is just so high. I think they made a good call. I generally prefer the strategy of stacking your farm with a bevy of position guys, and signing some FA pitching when you’re ready to compete.
You’re right pitching is very risky but high reward.
The cubs strategy wasn’t all that bad.
They drafted hitters rarely focusing on pitching choosing to instead get proven pitching.. Won a world series. They’re in a mess right now, but thats also cause of the contracts to Heyward and Darvish., moreso Heyward.
The Braves have focused primarily on pitching through the draft and don’t really have much to show for it out of all the arms they’ve stocked up.
Nothing is wrong with the Darvish contract. He was hurt the first year. It happens.
this kid may be good overtime most likely but I really think the Orioles are going to pay for it by letting Aston Martin called number 5 for division rival Toronto
An Aston Martin is a car.
swing and a drive…
I’m not sold on Martin. I think He was overhyped by the media.
I agree. Austin Martin seems to be really overhyped. He’s probably a good bet to make it to the majors, but I doubt he’s a superstar. Lots of Dansby Swanson comps. Simply a weak draft at the top. I’m totally on board with Elias’s gamble here. It sounds like we did really well with our last few picks. I guess we’ll know for sure in a few years…
that just screams “lazy comp.” classic situation where a comp is made simply because the guy plays the same position and on the same team.
I agree also, even though his bat and versatility speaks volumes, he was a player without one true position. The O’s nerd position players not multi positional players.
need*
I think this is going to end up looking really stupid in a few years but i get the intent. With the #2 I think you really need to capitalize and grab the best possible player. It wouldn’t surprise me if not even one player the O’s drafted this year makes it to MLB.
The odds of 6 high draft choices never playing a single inning in the MLB are very slim. You could make a significant argument that none will be stars or productive regulars, but I’d take whatever odds that at some point at least one of these guys will throw a single pitch or take a single at bat. Stop hating.
The media doesn’t dictate who the best players are. If you look at every one of these mock draft through the years, they are all failures. If the orioles felt hjerstad was the 2nd best hitter. You take him.
I think it’s obvious the plan was go under slot in the first round so you can go over slot later. When you have #2 you shouldn’t be getting crafty. Just take the closest player to a sure thing you can. Also, I’m not a scout so maybe this guy was just as close to a “sure thing” in the eyes of Elias as Martin or whoever else but it appears that they went with a lesser talent purposely.
When did you become a Scout. You know absolutely about the 6 players they drafted. To say none will make it to the Majors at this point just means you have no clue what you are talking about.
I said I wouldn’t be surprised if none made it. I never said anything definitively. And the reason I wouldn’t be surprised is past the first round major league players are few and far between. Add in the fact they went under slot I just wouldn’t be surprised if no one made it
(1) The odds of NONE of those six guys making the majors is astronomically small.so even as an exaggeration your statement has no credibility. (2) Why is Martin the better player? Because Keith Law said so? Among other things, Martin has a poor throwing arm which limits him defensively. He won’t be able to play SS or 3B in the majors, and while he might have great range in CF his arm would be taken advantage of regularly.. It’s likely that his best position will be 2B. In the prior 20 years, only FOUR 2B were taken in the top 15 of the draft: Rickie and Jemile Weeks, Cory Spangenburg ad Keston Hiura. Clearly MLB teams don’t value 2B in the draft, and if the O’s were convinced that Martin were a 2B, then that drops his value.
Agree Martin will be a 2nd baseman. Wasn’t aware of the lack of 2b drafted early. Not a fan of Martin but even more reason it to draft him early
If you have #2 overall, you take the best available player.
It does not appear BAL did that.
Blue Jays could not be happier.
Martin has more defensive versatility, but that doesn’t clearly define him as the 2nd best player. Most mocks simply placed him there. It’s not about what the mocks alone felt though, because they don’t take into consideration how each player fits within a team’s philosophy. If Baltimore liked Kjerstad better, you take him.
Ducey
This has a possibility to be as “remarkable” as not using Britton in the Wild Card game a few years back. Blue Jays appeared to benefit then, too.
I say appeared because I get a Devon Travis vibe from Martin. He plays hard so he will play with aches and pains. Not everyone can perform at the highest level when that is true.
Too soon for the Devon Travis comparison. Martin is at least 4 inches taller than Travis. Travis may be listed at 5 foot 9 but he was closer to 5 foot 7. Martin’s also more athletic and more versatile.
In the end you might be right, injury-wise. Still too soon.
Get Cashner back as a relief pitcher for the 60 game season. I think he would even be a good closer.
As I doubt the Birds will need to add 2.5 mill to slot value to sign their 3rd pick, I must have missed where there is a prize for most left over draft money.
You must have missed the million dollar over slot bonus given to the 4th and 5th round high school choices
The article above only mentions they have unofficial deals in place with the two high schoolers and does not specify the amount of those deals. Must be nice to be privy to information not public.
Thee article above didn’t do the leg work. They are signed.
Stymeedone it’s very nice having access to google. I think your lazy self also has access. Might want to give it a search before replying to me like a Dbag.
Cause nobody pays attention lol
I wish the Orioles would sign a couple of veterans that have been released the past days. Such as Alex Wilson
LOL another high strikeout. 1 dimensional guy….LOL
They got him cause he was cheap…LOL
A cheap chris davis…
The fans are like he might hit the warehouse… the rest of planet is like ….so?