When the Orioles last had the MLB draft’s first pick, they selected a player viewed as the top prospect available and one who became a guiding force in their rebuild in catcher Adley Rutschman.
In taking Oklahoma high school shortstop Jackson Holliday in that spot three years later Sunday night, Baltimore passed on this year’s perceived top player. The organization believes it got a player who can be just as much of a difference-maker as Rutschman, regardless.
“It’s an absolute honor to be the No. 1 pick and join such great players in that position,” Holliday said on MLB Network.