1) I find myself biasing my draft thoughts based on who I think they'd take for developmental profiles.
My typical preference at #22 would be someone like Tommy White, looking for the big, unique tools (not speed) that can impact the team, but I find myself drifting towards the profiles I'd think they want to develop, like Carson Benge.
2) I always want to get into the (for lack of a better word) manipulating the draft game like we saw with Brock Porter in '22 and maybe the Orioles did something similar with Jud Fabian. The Orioles should have some cache for doing this more now. Success of the team, success in development could raise the profile of the Organization.
I look at a kid like Pipeline #127 Harrison Didawick. From Chesapeake, VA, playing at UVA, LH OF, 6'4" good power projection, gets a Jake Cunningham comp (and the Orioles loved Cunningham) feels like maybe an eventual Kjerstad type kid. ...but he's a draft eligible sophomore so he has some leverage. He can put a late 1st round number ($$) out there and keep teams off him and he can fall down the draft board where the Orioles can take him later on Day 2 maybe even Day 3. You can't do this for every kid, but pick a couple targets that want to work with you and add value to your draft. Give him money like they did Mayo or Willems.
Another kid, also UVA (this will be a theme) OF, Casey Saucke. His dad played in the Orioles Organization for a couple years. Not a great sophomore season so if he's got a number over 4th rd $$, he probably can push himself to the Orioles for 500k somewhere down the board.
3) Orioles draft: 22 (1), 32 (Gunnar), 61 (2), 97 (3), 127 (4), 160 (5)
#22: Feel like Benge could definitely be the target here. Maybe Vance Honeycutt if he drops just a little.
#32: Bob's thought on Alabama HS SS Carter Johnson (P: #40) seems like a reasonable target. Gets the Gunnar comp from a number of levels. I also like UVA product Griff O'Farrell (P: #41) here. That kid feels like a straight Westburg comp.
#61: Another UVA product 1B/C Ethan Anderson. Switch-hitter with power.. Great makeup. It doesn't seem like he's a pro catcher, but if we're extending Adley and projecting Basallo, having a quality bat 1B/DH bat that can catch in pinch seems like a great opportunity.
#97: Probably have to jump on Eastern PA HS 3B Chase Harlan (P: #124) here before the Phillies pop him. He just lit up the combine with serious power. Almost feels like a Mayo comp.
#127: I'll take UVAs Casey Saucke (P: #129, mentioned above) here.
Hoping to get Didawick in a later round.
Honeycutt, O'Ferrall, and Anderson..... is Dude Mike Elias just trolling everyone?
