Cobb to undergo season-ending hip surgery (O's lead 4-2)

Cobb to undergo season-ending hip surgery (O's lead 4-2)
Orioles pitcher Alex Cobb will undergo surgery on his right hip later this week in Nashville that's going to close out his 2019 season after only three starts. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias provided a rare update on Cobb this afternoon in the home dugout during batting practice. Cobb has been attempting to rehab his lower back and hip in Sarasota. The decision was made for Cobb to visit orthopedic surgeon Dr. J.W. Thomas Byrd in Nashville. The surgery is intended to...

Mike Elias on Orioles' draft pick signings

Mike Elias on Orioles' draft pick signings
The Orioles today announced the signings of 20 of their 41 draft picks and also signed one undrafted free agent. The highest selection signed was fourth-round pick, shortstop Joey Ortiz out of New Mexico State. The slot amount for that pick, No. 108 overall, is $538,200. A junior, Ortiz is one of five finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, which goes to the nation's top shortstop. He was also named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year after batting .422/.474/.697 with 25...

Shorebirds don't clinch yet as Orioles return home

Shorebirds don't clinch yet as Orioles return home
Single-A Delmarva clinching its first playoff appearance in 14 years will have to wait at least until tonight. The Shorebirds were a few outs from clinching last night, but West Virginia hit a grand slam down three runs in the last of the eighth to stun Delmarva in a comeback 5-4 win. So instead of wrapping up the first-half title in the South Atlantic League's Northern Division, the Shorebirds title will have to wait. Their magic number remains one with six games left. Delmarva was 34-1 when...

O's notes on Dylan Bundy, Adley Rutschman and Delmarva

O's notes on Dylan Bundy, Adley Rutschman and Delmarva
A few notes and thoughts on the Orioles road trip that ended Sunday. They went 2-4 on a homestand versus the Tigers and Giants, but the 2-4 on the road against Texas and Houston seemed better. There were six competitive games against teams that currently hold American League playoff berths. Bundy was good again: Fans an media alike have analyzed - and probably overanalyzed - Dylan Bundy's pitching. But for now, he's pitching well again. Bundy allowed four hits and three runs (two earned) over...

Elias on Rutschman, rebuilds and reunions (tied 3-3)

Elias on Rutschman, rebuilds and reunions (tied 3-3)
HOUSTON - Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias anticipates that the club can begin announcing draft-pick signings next week, and he remains convinced that the process with catcher Adley Rutschman, the first-overall selection out of Oregon State University, will be a smooth one. The July 12 deadline shouldn't trip up the Orioles. "We've got a big effort on our hands now getting all these guys signed," Hyde said earlier today. "I'm working on that. Brad Ciolek,...

Hyde on the catchers, Davis, Stewart and more (O's lead 11-5)

Hyde on the catchers, Davis, Stewart and more (O's lead 11-5)
ARLINGTON, Tx. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde stopped short today of saying that he'd go with a strict platoon at catcher. However, his roster is set up where Pedro Severino can start against left-handers and Chance Sisco can play versus right-handers. Severino is in the lineup tonight with the Rangers starting southpaw Drew Smyly. He's slashing .351/.405/.649 when the opponent sends a lefty to the mound. Sisco is expected to stay on the bench Wednesday night against lefty Mike Minor and make...

O's take LSU outfielder in round three of the draft (updated)

O's take LSU outfielder in round three of the draft (updated)
The Orioles will make eight picks today in the First-Year Player Draft as the clubs complete rounds 3-10 on the second day of the draft. Check back here often today and hit refresh for updates. In round 3: The Orioles selected LSU junior outfielder Zach Watson with selection No. 79, the first pick of the round. Watson, 21, has outstanding speed and this year he hit .310/.377/.476 with 17 doubles, seven homers, 41 RBIs, 52 runs and 11 steals in 12 tries. He was a draft-eligible sophomore last...

Mike Elias on first day of draft and O's three picks

Mike Elias on first day of draft and O's three picks
The first night of the First-Year Player Draft found the Orioles select three position players in a catcher No. 1 overall followed by a high school shortstop and college center fielder. There were no pitchers selected yet by the Orioles and the draft began with the O's on the clock for the second time in team history. The club selected Oregon State junior catcher Adley Rutschman with the No. 1 pick. He became the first catcher taken 1/1 since Minnesota selected Joe Mauer in 2001. After his...

Elias on Rutschman: "It's a total package" (updated)

Elias on Rutschman: "It's a total package" (updated)
In a live interview tonight on "MASN All Access" coverage of the First-Year Player Draft, Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias explained his reasons for making Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman the No. 1 pick. "Well, just the switch-hitter (aspect). A polished college bat," said Elias, minutes after making the selection. "The approach, the plus hit, plus power from both sides. Really, the mental makeup, I think, is a separator with him. He brings leadership...

Orioles select Rutschman with first draft pick (updated)

Orioles select Rutschman with first draft pick (updated)
The mocks didn't miss the mark. The Orioles were projected by numerous outlets to use the first-overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft tonight on Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman and that's exactly what they did, with the announcement coming on MLB Network. A round loaded with high-ceiling position players began with the Orioles selecting a catcher for the first time since Matt Wieters went fifth overall in 2007 out of Georgia Tech. They passed on Texas high school shortstop Bobby...

Draft day arrives: O's pick No. 1 for second time in team history

Draft day arrives: O's pick No. 1 for second time in team history
When you select with the No. 1 pick in the First-Year Player Draft, as the Orioles will do tonight, you could select a future Hall of Famer like Ken Griffey Jr. or Chipper Jones. You could also select Matt Bush, Matt Anderson or Brien Taylor. Who? Exactly. There are no guarantees, no sure things, no such thing as can't miss. They can all miss. You aim for the stars and hope you don't just produce wind with a big swing and miss. But the baseball draft is very different from all others. You...

Delving a little deeper into the draft

Delving a little deeper into the draft
The day has arrived for the Orioles to unveil the first overall pick in the amateur draft. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias wore his poker face on Friday while sitting in the dugout and taking questions from the media. He didn't suggest that the Orioles would select Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman. He didn't lead anyone to believe that they no longer held interest. The same goes for Texas high school shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., University of California first baseman...

MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis on the Orioles' No. 1 draft pick

MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis on the Orioles' No. 1 draft pick
We are now just days away from a huge night for the Orioles. The 2019 First-Year Player Draft begins Monday at 7 p.m. It will be televised live on MLB Network and, for the second time in team history, the Orioles have the first pick in the draft. The draft consists of 40 rounds, and a team may pass on its selection in any round and not forfeit its right to participate in other rounds. The 2019 draft will span three days, as it has since 2009. On Monday, the first 41 selections, through...

Elias on draft: "A rare opportunity to get an impact player"

Elias on draft: "A rare opportunity to get an impact player"
We are now less than three weeks from June 3, the first day of the First-Year Player Draft. That is going to be a huge day and night for the Orioles, who will make the first pick in the first round for just the second time in club history. The draft began in 1965. In 1989, the Orioles made LSU right-handed pitcher Ben McDonald the top pick in the first round. The Orioles have never had the No. 2 pick and selected No. 3 just once and took Manny Machado there in 2010. Almost every mock draft...

Some middle infield and Adley Rutschman talk

Some middle infield and Adley Rutschman talk
If the goal was to create competition for playing time and jobs, the Orioles have more than done that in their infield, especially up the middle. Over the weekend, the club signed 32-year-old Alcides Escobar to a minor league deal. He's an 11-year major league veteran who played in the 2015 All-Star Game and also won a Gold Glove that year with Kansas City. Escobar was exclusively a shortstop in his big league career until adding to that last season with the Royals. He made 104 starts at...

Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman remains atop draft boards

Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman remains atop draft boards
Baseball America recently released its list of the top 100 prospects available for the First-Year Player Draft in June and Oregon State switch-hitting catcher Adley Rutschman is No. 1. Texas high school shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is No. 2. That is the same top two that we saw on MLBPipeline.com's list. For just the second time in Orioles history, the club will make the overall No. 1 pick on June 3. In 1989, the Orioles selected LSU right-hander Ben McDonald 1/1, with the first pick in the first...

Baseball America's J.J. Cooper weighs in on the No. 1 draft pick

Baseball America's J.J. Cooper weighs in on the No. 1 draft pick
LAS VEGAS - The last catcher drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft was Joe Mauer, taken by the Minnesota Twins in 2001. There could be another catcher taken 1/1 in June and the Orioles hold that pick. Earlier, it seemed that many analysts favored Texas high school shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. for that No. 1 pick. Now the sentiment seems to have strongly moved toward Oregon State's switch-hitting catcher, Adley Rutschman. And top draft analysts are reaching a consensus...

Talking about the No. 1 draft pick at the Winter Meetings

Talking about the No. 1 draft pick at the Winter Meetings
LAS VEGAS - It will obviously be a huge moment for new Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias. But we are going to have to wait a few months for it. In June, the Orioles have the No. 1 pick in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft. For just the second time in team history, they select 1/1, the first pick in the first round. The Orioles took Ben McDonald out of LSU with that selection in 1989. Right now, there are two players that are getting the most buzz for...

Do the Orioles go catcher with the No. 1 pick?

Do the Orioles go catcher with the No. 1 pick?
As new Orioles general manager Mike Elias said this week, he is looking to take the best player and not work to fill a need on his major league roster with top draft picks. You can't have a higher pick than No. 1 in round one, which the Orioles hold for the June 2019 First-Year Player Draft. That could be a pick, however, that sees the Orioles not only take the best player, but fill a need. The club is not overflowing with top catching prospects, and a backstop could be their selection when...