Baltimore Orioles fans finally have something to be cheerful about this season. Their team finished with the worst record in the league, but this resulted in the Orioles owning the first overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.

Baltimore finished their 2021 MLB season with a 12-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays that dropped them to a 52-110 record. This tied them with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who got a 5-4 win against the Colorado Rockies to wrap up their campaign with 52-110 as well.

Despite the two franchises having the same record, the no.1 pick went to the Orioles thanks to a tiebreaker that gives the advantage to the team with the worst campaign in the previous seasons. Since the teams also shared the same record (25-35) in 2020, their performance in 2019 was considered. Baltimore was 54–108, while Arizona was 85–77 two years ago.

This will be the second time in four years that the Orioles get to pick first in the draft. They also had the first overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft when they selected catcher Adley Rutschman. He is yet to make a majors appearance for Baltimore.

The Texas Rangers will get to pick third behind the Orioles and the Diamondbacks, while the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals will follow.

The post Baltimore Orioles Land the No. 1 Pick in 2022 MLB Draft appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Detroit Tigers didn’t make any surprises with their first overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft on Wednesday night. Tigers took the safe route, selecting Arizona States’ slugger Spencer Torkelson.

Torkelson was previously projected as the No.1 pick by most baseball analysts, who were impressed by his hitting power and above-average defense. The 20-year-old baseman spent two and a half seasons at college, where he posted .337 batting average with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs.

According to Tigers’ general manager Al Avila, the team selected Torkelson with the intention of making him their third baseman of the future. This is despite the fact that the player spent his entire college career playing first base.

“We know he can play first, but our scouts strongly feel that he can play third base, and that’s our intent at this point,” said Avila. “He’s exactly the type of player we hoped would be there with the first pick. At this point, we’re going to send him out as a third baseman.”

Torkelson himself also doesn’t seem to oppose to the idea.

“It’s not a shock to me. I prided myself as a baseball player, and a baseball player isn’t stuck at one position,” said Torkelson.

By selecting Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers did not only make the safest pick but also addressed their need for power. The Tigers were at the bottom of AL in runs and home runs last season, so having powerful hitter like Torkelson should definitely help them out. He also fits with the team’s up-and-coming young core.

Elsewhere in the draft, Baltimore Orioles selected Arkansas’ outfielder Heston Kjerstad with the second overall pick, while Miami Marlins went pitcher with No.3 and took right-hander Max Meyer. Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays rounded up the top five selections, drafting left-handed pitcher Asa Lacy of Texas A&M and Vanderbilt’s shortstop Austin Martin respectively.

The post Tigers Select Arizona States’ Spencer Torkelson First Overall in 2020 MLB Draft appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Baltimore Orioles fans finally have something to be cheerful about this season. Their team finished with the worst record in the league, but this resulted in the Orioles owning the first overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.

Baltimore finished their 2021 MLB season with a 12-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays that dropped them to a 52-110 record. This tied them with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who got a 5-4 win against the Colorado Rockies to wrap up their campaign with 52-110 as well.

Despite the two franchises having the same record, the no.1 pick went to the Orioles thanks to a tiebreaker that gives the advantage to the team with the worst campaign in the previous seasons. Since the teams also shared the same record (25-35) in 2020, their performance in 2019 was considered. Baltimore was 54–108, while Arizona was 85–77 two years ago.

This will be the second time in four years that the Orioles get to pick first in the draft. They also had the first overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft when they selected catcher Adley Rutschman. He is yet to make a majors appearance for Baltimore.

The Texas Rangers will get to pick third behind the Orioles and the Diamondbacks, while the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals will follow.

The post Baltimore Orioles Land the No. 1 Pick in 2022 MLB Draft appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Detroit Tigers didn’t make any surprises with their first overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft on Wednesday night. Tigers took the safe route, selecting Arizona States’ slugger Spencer Torkelson.

Torkelson was previously projected as the No.1 pick by most baseball analysts, who were impressed by his hitting power and above-average defense. The 20-year-old baseman spent two and a half seasons at college, where he posted .337 batting average with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs.

According to Tigers’ general manager Al Avila, the team selected Torkelson with the intention of making him their third baseman of the future. This is despite the fact that the player spent his entire college career playing first base.

“We know he can play first, but our scouts strongly feel that he can play third base, and that’s our intent at this point,” said Avila. “He’s exactly the type of player we hoped would be there with the first pick. At this point, we’re going to send him out as a third baseman.”

Torkelson himself also doesn’t seem to oppose to the idea.

“It’s not a shock to me. I prided myself as a baseball player, and a baseball player isn’t stuck at one position,” said Torkelson.

By selecting Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers did not only make the safest pick but also addressed their need for power. The Tigers were at the bottom of AL in runs and home runs last season, so having powerful hitter like Torkelson should definitely help them out. He also fits with the team’s up-and-coming young core.

Elsewhere in the draft, Baltimore Orioles selected Arkansas’ outfielder Heston Kjerstad with the second overall pick, while Miami Marlins went pitcher with No.3 and took right-hander Max Meyer. Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays rounded up the top five selections, drafting left-handed pitcher Asa Lacy of Texas A&M and Vanderbilt’s shortstop Austin Martin respectively.

The post Tigers Select Arizona States’ Spencer Torkelson First Overall in 2020 MLB Draft appeared first on SportzBonanza.