Orioles Opt For Power Prospect With First Pick

[ThomasTomasz]

The Baltimore Orioles selected a high school infielder in the first round of the amateur draft Tuesday, selecting Bill Rowell of Bishop Eustace Prep in New Jersey with the ninth overall pick.

The Orioles hadn't taken a high school infielder in the first round since choosing Robert Bruce in 1978.

Baltimore began scouting Rowell in June 2005, and stayed on him.

"We had a lot of interest, and he has a lot of interest in the Orioles," said Joe Jordan, the Orioles scouting director.

Rowell, a left-handed hitter, batted .557 with a .660 on-base percentage, and was 22-for-23 in stolen base attempts. His home run total declined from 14 as a junior to six this year, as teams began to pitch around him and Rowell concentrated on hitting the ball to all fields.

As a junior, Rowell batted .529 with 62 RBIs. He played shortstop in high school, but the Orioles listed him as a third baseman when making their selection.

"We just feel like that's where he's going to end up," Jordan said. "We could send him out as a shortstop, but we just feel like he's going to end up long-term at third base and we might as well get him going there.

"We're very excited about the bat. His power is easy power and it's to all fields. We're really excited to get him."

Jordan said Rowell wasn't a need pick. The Orioles took the best player available to them. The first nine players on their draft board were chosen within the first nine slots, though not in the exact order.

"We feel like he's a hitter first. We just don't draft in need at the top of the draft," Jordan said. "We feel like it's a middle-of-the-order bat that's going to play a position where we don't have a lot of depth."

With the supplemental pick they acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays after losing closer B.J. Ryan to free agency, the Orioles selected right-hander Pedro Beato from St. Petersburg Junior College. He was the 32nd pick overall.

The New York Mets took Beato in the 17th round of the 2005 draft but couldn't sign him. He underwent ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow the previous year.

"That was 24 months ago, so we've got that behind him. We're good," Jordan said.

Beato was 6-3 with a 2.75 ERA, 23 walks and 80 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings.

"He's very strong, a 6-5, 6-6 kid who's going to be an innings eater," Jordan said. "We had seen him at 95, 96 (mph) this year with a plus breaking ball and changeup."

Rowell and Beato are expected to begin their professional careers at short-season Class A Aberdeen.

In the second round, the Orioles chose shortstop Ryan Adams from Jesuit (La.) High. In the third round, they selected left-hander Zack Britton from Weatherford (Tx.) High.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/b...ports-baseball

[Dry1313]

Hey I know a kid who goes to Jesuit High what a small world.

[MarinersFan87]

Dude, there are tons of Jesuits. Really know someone that goes to the one in New Orleans?

[General]

Yeah, I do too. He was in my Latin class this year.