Henry Roldán
The 2022 MLB Draft is scheduled to begin this Sunday, July 17 in Los Angeles, California, as part of the mid-season break with the Home Run Derby on Monday and the All-Star Game on Tuesday.
A few hours before the selection of the the future promises of the best baseball organizations in the world starts, the predicitons come and go just like the odds in Las Vegas, and this gives us a projection of who will be the first overall pick in the upcoming draft by the Baltimore Orioles.
2022 MLB Draft 2022 Las Vegas Odds
Brooks Lee (SS) / -350
Brooks Lee appears to be the heavy favorite in Las Vegas to be drafted by the Orioles, as he is the only one at the top of the list who has college baseball experience. This is something that helps him a lot, considering that the Baltimore organization, under Mike Elias, has only taken two high school players.
Lee is the best college bat in the draft, as well as an ambidextrous shortstop who is praised for his contact quality. What’s the problem with this? Many are unclear about his ability to continue playing SS in the future, as he projects as a third baseman.
Druw Jones (OF) / +275
Druw Jones is not only known for being the son of former big leaguer, Andrew Jones, but also for the incredible skills he has for playing the outfield just like his father. Scouts view Jones as a “five-tool” player, and this makes him one of the most coveted names in the 2022 MLB Draft.
The question mark with the outfielder is that his experience is based in high school games, something that we have previously mentioned does not appeal to the Orioles. However, according to the player himself, this season he hit .570/.675/.1026, with seven doubles, three triples, 13 home runs, 39 runs batted in, 33 walks and only nine strikeouts.
Termarr Johnson (2B) / +350
For many analysts, including CBS Sports, Termarr Johnson should be the Orioles’ first pick in Sunday’s Draft, being the hitter with the best projection of all the names in the class.
While Johnson has not made the jump to college baseball, many speak of the maturity with which he takes each of his turns and the power he can display without needing to be a slugger.
The problem with Johnson is the position he plays in, because while he can play shortstop, he projects as a second baseman. Despite his offensive ability and having spent a few days batting at Camden Yards, this is a position that Baltimore has not traditionally filled, which might be a significant disadvantage.
Jackson Holliday (SS) / +1100
Jackson Holliday is another strong candidate to be taken as a first round pick by any team except the Orioles, who are not known for picking high school players.
In this case, Holliday, despite being one of the best hitters in the draft with an incredible quality with the glove, is up against Lee, who also plays SS, with college baseball experience.
While he won’t be the first pick, the son of Matt Holliday should have an assured spot in Sunday’s Top 5.
JefeBet Predictions
It seems extremely difficult to make a prediction based on how tight-lipped the Baltimore Orioles have been on the subject. The organization has only informed that it has been evaluating a good group of players, taking advantage of the fact that they have three more picks between the first and second round.
In this scenario, my pick is Druw Jones, an outfielder with major league home training and, at only 17 years old, the Orioles can mold him their way. He is a “five-tool” player.
Mark Brown, of Camdenchat.com, analyzed the scouting reports and defined it this way: While Jones’ right-handed swing is still somewhat of a work in progress, he understands it well, shows the ability to make adjustments and does damage against quality pitching He already has plenty of bat speed and drives balls to the gaps, and as he fills out his 6-foot-4 frame he should develop plus power. He’s a plus-plus runner when he turns on the jets and is capable of beating out ground balls to the left side… His speed and instincts combine to give him tremendous range, and his well-above-average arm strength stands out at a position not known for many cannons.
Pick: Druw Jones.
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