Orioles get third-round pick into the fold
The Orioles have agreed to terms with third-round pick Mike Wright, a right-handed pitcher out of East Carolina. Wright went 6-4 with a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts for the Pirates this past season.
He is the third Orioles top-10 pick in this month’s draft to agree to terms, joining fifth-round choice Matt Taylor, a left-handed pitcher from Middle Georgia College and seventh-round selection Trent Howard, a lefty out of Central Michigan.
Two other top 10 selections -- Vanderbilt third baseman Jason Esposito (second round) and Virginia pitcher Phillip Wilson (10th round) -- are playing in the College World Series, so the Orioles can’t negotiate with them. Overall, the Orioles have agreed to terms with eight of their 50 selections.
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
He sign for slot?
Posted by: Jeff V. | June 20, 2011 8:38 PM
Jeff:
In respect to my comments earlier about the terrible send call Russell made on Jakabauskas ...
Any known reason Willie Randolph was in the 3rd base box tonight?
(Randolph made a great send on Lee on Andino's single in the first.)
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Jeff Z's reply: I asked Buck this after the game and he gave us 3 reasons - 1. Russell's knees are acting up again; 2. Buck said that he wanted Russell, who is the catching instructor, closer to the catchers in between innings and stuff and; 3. Since Russell was both the Pirates manager and coach and knows a lot of their players, Buck wanted him close on the bench so he could take to him about certain Pirate hitters and situations.
Posted by: Kenny from Pikesville | June 20, 2011 10:40 PM
Jeff - This signing will not turn the fortunes of the Orioles around.
As I wrote last week the only two players the Orioles need to sign that are "difference makers" are Bundy and Nick Delmonico. All the MLB experts agree without the Orioles signing Dylan Bundy and Nick Delmonico this past draft will do nothing to increase the competitive nature of the future Orioles.
The front office better give these players what they want - they have no choice to do otherwise because of the poor drafts the prior ten years.
Posted by: Steve Eilertson | June 20, 2011 10:49 PM
jeff -
has anyone taken notice that Arrieta is on pace for 21 wins this year and is leading the league in wins?
he's no Cy Young Award winner, but it would still be cool if he could pull it off.
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Jeff Z's reply: Yes, wins aren't everything and the Orioles certainly want to see Arrieta get deeper in the game and throw more strikes, but it's hard to find too many issues with him in his first full big league season.
Posted by: dave in glen burnie | June 20, 2011 11:18 PM
Jeff;
Comments by Steve Ellertson are based on emotion.
The draft is like rolling the dice. Remember Piazza!
Posted by: JoeS. | June 20, 2011 11:52 PM
I agree with JoeS. Saying the draft is a wash this early is silly. You have no idea who is going to emerge and evolve. Sign as many as you can ... including the bonus babies ... and see where the chips fall. It's a crap shoot at best,
Posted by: RickW | June 21, 2011 5:44 AM