Orioles present trade proposal featuring exceptional talent for the 2024 draft

July 9, 2024 Emilysport3 Baltimore Orioles 0

For five years from 2018 to 2022, draft day was the highlight of Birdland’s in-season calendar. During a period when the on-field performance suffered due to a complete rebuild, the draft provided a glimmer of hope as the Orioles began constructing a better future.

Now, firmly established among MLB’s elite teams, the Orioles are reaping the benefits of that rebuilt future. The current lineup, centered around five Mike Elias draft picks, demonstrates how those challenging drafts have become the foundation of a legitimate World Series contender.

This significant improvement in the team’s success has altered the perception of the draft for both the front office and fans. No longer do the Orioles have their pick of the top players in a given class. Instead, the challenge of being a winning franchise involves drafting well without premium picks and keeping the minor league system robust.

Franchises like the Dodgers and Braves have maintained consistent success over the past decade by sustaining both their major league teams and their minor league depth. They have found stars with lower first-round picks, such as Walker Buehler for LA and Austin Riley for Atlanta, serving as models for the Orioles to emulate.

Last year, the Orioles’ front office diverged from their usual strategy of targeting power-first college hitters by selecting Enrique Bradfield Jr. with the No. 17 pick. Bradfield, with his 80-grade speed and exceptional defensive skills, exemplified elite traits that could be found outside the top picks.

With the No. 22 pick in the 2024 draft, Mike Elias and his team might once again deviate from their previous draft approach to target players with elite traits. With that possibility in mind, here are three draft prospects who could bring exceptional skills to the best minor league system in baseball.

Brody Brecht, RHP University of Iowa No.21 draft prospect

It’s clear that the Orioles need to bolster their pitching depth, both in the majors and the minors. This need makes Brecht a compelling option if he’s available at the 22nd pick. Brecht boasts two standout pitches with his 70-grade fastball and slider. MLB.com praises Brecht highly, noting that when he’s performing well, his fastball and slider are comparable to those of Paul Skenes, who recently became the first No. 1 overall pick to make an All-Star game the year after being drafted.

However, Brecht’s inconsistency is a concern. His 40-grade command is the lowest among pitchers projected to go in the first round. Despite year-to-year improvements in his BB/9 throughout college, his 5.6 BB/9 as a junior is still over two walks higher than the 2023 MLB average.

That said, the Orioles have a history of helping pitchers improve their command in the minors. For instance, Kyle Bradish reduced his BB/9 from 4.9 in college to 2.9 in the majors. Similarly, Félix Bautista and Dean Kremer have made significant strides in their command with the Orioles. Although Brecht could be another DL Hall type at best, his unique pitching abilities make him a worthwhile risk for the 22nd pick.

Vance Honeycutt, OF University of North Carolina No.22 prospect

Honeycutt is to this draft’s college bats what Brecht is to the college arms: loaded with elite traits but with a significant flaw. Honeycutt combines 70-grade fielding, 65-grade speed, and 60-grade power—qualities rarely seen in an outfield prospect projected to go outside the Top 10. For comparison, Dylan Crews, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft, had 55-grade fielding and 60-grade speed with similar power.

However, Honeycutt’s major issue is his high strikeout rate. He struck out 224 times in 693 at-bats at UNC, resulting in a concerning 32% K rate. In 2023, only two MLB hitters had a K rate of 32% or higher, raising concerns that Honeycutt’s plate discipline will deteriorate against better competition.

Despite this, the Orioles are not typically deterred by hitters with strikeout issues. Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo both had lower hitting tool grades as draft prospects but overcame these concerns to become top hitting prospects. Honeycutt’s combination of power and defense gives him a potential as high as Kjerstad or Mayo.

Kellon Lindsey, SS Hardee Senior HS (FL) No. 29 prospect

If the Orioles’ front office aims to replicate the Bradfield pick but in the infield, they should consider Lindsey. This prep shortstop from Florida boasts 75-grade speed and can achieve “80-grade run times.” While Lindsey may not match Bradfield’s exceptional speed at Vanderbilt or his defensive polish, he is nearly three years younger than Bradfield at the time of the draft, leaving ample room for physical development.

Lindsey’s draft profile closely mirrors that of Nationals All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams, whom the Padres selected sixth overall in the 2019 draft from the Georgia prep ranks. Lindsey has the potential to become a 20 HR/30+ SB player at the major league level but is likely at least four years away from reaching the MLB. Such potential makes him worth considering for the 22nd pick, though it requires the front office to accept the inherent risks of drafting high school players.

Elias and his team have typically avoided using early picks on high school bats, with Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday being the only prep position players they’ve selected in the Top 100. Lindsey’s elite speed and potential to develop other strong skills might entice the Orioles’ GM to add another high school shortstop to their roster. Nonetheless, it seems more probable that the Orioles will opt for high-upside college players if they are available at their selection.

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