There were some rumors even as the Major League Baseball draft started Monday night that the Orioles might have a surprise in store with the No. 1 pick, but in the end they went with the expected pick: Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman. The Royals followed with Bobby Witt Jr., son of former Major Leaguer Bobby Witt. Then the White Sox took Cal’s Andrew Vaughn, the Marlins tabbed Vanderbilt’s JJ Bleday and the Tigers drafted high schooler Riley Greene. The most memorable pick outside the top five might have been UCLA’s Chase Strumpf, who was told the Cubs took him in the second round while he was in the on-deck circle of the Bruins’ regional game against Loyola Marymount. He went to the plate and homered.
Among those already in the big leagues, the Dodgers’ Julio Urias won’t be charged in a domestic battery case, and Dallas Keuchel might soon have a home.
Rutschman was the best hitter on one of college baseball’s top teams, and the Orioles hope he’ll be a cornerstone of their franchise for years to come.
With the first pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, the Orioles select C Adley Rutschman from 2018 CWS champion Oregon State. He finished his junior season with a .411 batting average and a .751 slugging pct.
Rutschman is the first catcher selected 1st overall since Joe Mauer in 2001. pic.twitter.com/WmeElO6A0s
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 3, 2019
You can’t make up what happened to Chase Strumpf.
It’s what you’d call a good day for Chase Strumpf.
The @UCLABaseball 2B rocked this dinger right after the #Cubs snagged him with the No. 41 overall #MLBDraft pick. https://t.co/I4XB50yP67 https://t.co/mujy0PzmCF
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 4, 2019
Julio Urias is out of hot water after being accused of domestic battery. That’s good news for the Dodgers, and hopefully Urias has learned any necessary lessons.
Breaking: Julio Urías won’t face charges in his domestic battery case.
Here’s the initial story with @LAcrimes.https://t.co/m6WefaGSV3
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) June 4, 2019
The Astros are one of baseball’s hottest teams and the Mariners one of the coldest. Not surprising then that Houston never trailed in dispatching Seattle on Monday night.
The questions will probably occur to you more than once this series, and many times the rest of the season: Are the Astros really this good? Or are the Mariners really this bad? Yes. The answer is yes.
— Adam Jude (@A_Jude) June 4, 2019
Now that the draft has started, teams can sign premier free agents Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel without fear of penalty.
According to a source, the Yankees and Braves are the favorites to sign Dallas Keuchel. Both teams are believed to be in the same area with their offers at the moment.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) June 4, 2019
TOP STORIES
• O’s make Rutschman top pick; Witt Jr. goes 2nd | ESPN.com
• Strumpf hits HR shortly after Cubs draft him | ESPN.com
• Dodgers’ Julio Urias won’t face charges in domestic battery case | LA Daily News
