When they've moved on from the actual business of drafting and become analysts, or even when they simply speak honestly, people in Mike Elias' job running Major League Baseball draft rooms will admonish against drafting for need the way the first-year Orioles' executive vice president/general manager did.
The only exception is the one that applies to the Orioles' circumstance Monday night: Their need was talent, and that's exactly what they drafted.
In first overall pick Adley Rutschman, shortstop Gunnar Henderson at No. 42 and center fielder Kyle Stowers, the Orioles made selections that require no qualifiers, no explanations, and raise no eyebrows.