Orioles select Matusz with first-round pick
For the first time since 2004, the Orioles selected a pitcher with their first-round draft pick. The O's took University of San Diego lefty Brian Matusz with the fourth overall pick.
The 21-year-old Matusz was 12-2, 1.71 this season for the Torreros. In 105 innings he gave up 83 hits. He walked just 22 and fanned 141, allowing a batting average of .211 and just four homers all year. He hurled three shutouts during the 2008 college season.
He was considered the best pitcher in this draft and O's scouting director Joe Jordan said the O's had him ranked as the best as well.
Matusz, according to reports, throws his fastball from 90-93, topping out at 94, with an excellent curve ball and change as well--three "plus" pitches according to scouts.
Matusz, from Cave Creek, Arizona, pitched for Team USA last summer. He was Arizona's high school player of the year in 2005 and was drafted that year in round four by Anaheim, but didn't sign and headed for college.
"This was a tough pick," Jordan said. "Because we had others we liked as well." Jordan confirmed the O's had Matusz rated ahead of their second choice, University of South Carolina first baseman, Justin Smoak.
"It should tell you how much we like him, because there are some really quality bats in this draft. For the last 24 hours we went back and forth, but this pick fits the blueprint of our organization going forward. He can get right and left-handed hitters out because his change-up is so good."
Tampa took Georgia High School SS Tim Beckham with the first pick; then Pittsburgh selected Vanderbilt 3B Pedro Alvarez; and KC followed by taking High School first baseman Eric Hosmer, all before the O's selected.
Matusz went 10-3, 2.85 as a college sophomore and was 4-3, 4.25 his freshman season.
In his three-season college career, he made 45 starts and was 26-8, 2.94 with 397 strikeouts in 317 innings.
For more information on the O's first-round pick:
Draft Report for Brian Matusz[MiLB.com]
Brian Matusz Bio[collegebaseballprospects.net]
Brian Matusz Pitching Stats[thebaseballcube.com]
Brian Matusz of the University of San Diego Tossing Warm-Up pitches[YouTube.com]
Other O's picks in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft
Round 2 (#50) - Xavier Avery, OF, Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, Georgia.
Baseball America rates him as the fastest runner among high school players in this draft and as the third best high school athlete ... has signed a letter of intent to attend Georgia as a running back on the football team...Aflac All-American who has run a 6.2 in the 60...senior year hit .561-8-24 with 35 stolen bases.
Round 3 (#81) - L.J. Hoes, OF, St. John's HS, Washington, DC
Rated as a better than average hitter with some power...all tools grade out slighty above average...has a baseball commitment to North Carolina...hit .524-8-29 this season.
Round 4 (#116) - Kyle Hudson, OF, University of Illinois
Goes 5-11, 165...this year for Illinois hit .398-1-26 with 40 steals in 49 tries...from Matoon, Illinois...played WR in 2005 for Illinois football team and was team leader in receiving yards.
Round 5 (#146) - Greg Miclat, SS, University of Virginia
A 5-9, 180-pound switch-hitter from Concorn, North Carolina...this year hit .320-0-35 with 52 runs and 30 steals...was UVa's leadoff hitter for three years...83 career stolen bases and .334 career avg. with Cavs.
Round 6 (#176) - Richard Zagone, LHP, University of Missouri
Goes 6-3, 210...from Crystal Lake, Illinois...this season, as a Junior, made 19 appearances, 9 starts and went 2-3, 5.25...in 70 innings allowed 75 hits with 23 walks and 56 K's.
Round 7 (#206) - Caleb Joseph, C, Lipscomb
Is 6-3, 180, from Franklin, Tennessee...this year hit .342-17-61 with .615 slugging percentage...as a sophomore batted .335-8-48...an all Atlantic Sun conference pick and was MVP of the conference tourney....his brother, Corban, was a Yankees 4th round pick.
Round 8 (#236) - Bobby Bundy, RHP, Sperry (Okl) HS
Has signed to play in college at Arkansas...fastball can hit 94...as a Junior was 15-2, 0.47...goes 6-3, 210.
Round 9 (#266) - Nicholas Haughian, LHP, Washington
Made 15 starts this season for Huskies and went 6-5, 3.76...in 95.2 IP gave up 80 hits with 46 walks and 107 strikeouts...tied for first in Pac 10 in K's...size is 6-0, 205...from Bellvue, Washington.
Round 10 (#296) - Chris Herrman, 3B, Alvin (Tex) CC
Size is 6-1, 190...bats left, throws right...from Tomball, Texas.
For more information on the Orioles and the 2008 First-Year Player Draft:
MLB.com's Spencer Fordin breaks down to the O's first-round pick[MLB.com]
Draft analysis, photo galleries, and blogs, all on baltimoresun.com[baltimoresun.com]
Insidethewarehouse.com takes a look at the O's first-round pick from Matusz's perspective[insidethewarehouse.com]
Orioles Draft history back to 1965[baseballreference.com]
Scouts Inc.'s Keith Law breaks down which team made the best pick in the first round of the draft? The worst? The most surprising? Who will make it to the majors first?[espn.com]
Draft Preview: O's look to nab more young talent during Thursday's First-Year Player Draft
Orioles Director of Scouting, Joe Jordan discusses the upcoming amateur draft with Steve Melewski and Dave Johnson.
Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft is set for this Thursday and Friday. The Orioles and all Major League teams, can draft players thru 50 rounds over the two days.
The Orioles have the fourth pick in round one, selecting after Tampa, Pittsburgh and Kansas City. In round two, the O's have the 50th overall pick and in round three the 81st selection.
For the second year in a row, the first round will be televised. Each team will have five minutes to make a first-round pick. ESPN2's coverage begins Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m.
Drafted players must sign a contract by August 15th.
The Orioles' director of scouting, Joe Jordan, is in his fourth season. His first three drafts have gotten solid reviews. He's drafted the likes of Nolan Reimold, Billy Rowell, Brandon Erbe, Matt Wieters, Pedro Beato, Jake Arrieta, David Hernandez, Brandon Snyder, and Chorye Spoone to name just a few.
Matt Blood, assistant editor for Baseball America, told me the player most likely to be chosen by the O's will be Brian Matusz, a lefty pitcher from the University of San Diego.
"What's not to like about this guy," Blood says. "He has four pitches, three are above average, he throws 90-93 with his fastball. At 6'5", 200, he has a major-league body already, he can locate his pitches to both sides of the plate and works with solid mechanics. He projects as a 2 or 3 starter in the majors, but who knows, with improvement, he might top that."
Blood believes the Orioles would take Tim Beckham first if he falls to four, but that is considered very unlikely. So he gives the O's the nod to take Matusz or maybe South Carolina first baseman Justin Smoak with Gordon Beckham a longshot to be taken at four by the Birds.
Blood projects Tampa to take Buster Posey or Tim Beckham with the first pick then Pittsburgh is expected to draft Pedro Alvarez. KC, picking just before the O's would then nab either Posey, Beckham or Eric Hosmer.
Baseball America's Top Eight Players
1. Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Vanderbilt - He was ranked as the number one prospect in this class pre-season. He did miss the first half of this college season with a hamate bone injury. He is a left-handed power hitter with solid defensive skills and also a Scott Boras client.
2. Tim Beckham, SS, Griffin (Ga) High - The nation's top high school position player, he was the Aflac All-Star Game MVP last summer at Ripken Stadium. He is called a five-tool talent and compared to the Upton brothers.
3. Brian Matusz, LHP, San Diego - A 6-5 lefty with three-plus pitches. His fastball goes from 90-93, but scouts rave about his curve and changeup as well. He started for Team USA last summer. His last name is pronounced 'Mattis'.
4. Buster Posey, C, Florida State - His stock has risen as much as anyone's in the draft in recent weeks and Tampa could take him at number one. A .471 hitter, he is the best catcher in the draft on offense and defense. He is also an academic all-american.
5. Aaron Crow, RHP, Missouri - In three years he has gone from undrafted high school senior to the best right-handed pitcher in this draft. He can throw 92-96 with a hard sinker and plus slider. He led the Cape Cod league with a 0.67 ERA last summer.
6. Gordon Beckham, SS, University of Georgia - First of all, the two Beckhams are not related. His batting average and home runs have increased each season. He led the Cape league in homers last summer. Scouts aren't sure whether he will play short in the majors.
7. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Plantation (Fla) High - Hosmer is a lefty swinger with power to all fields. He is said to have the best raw power of anyone in this draft and said to be an above-average defender. He is a Scott Boras client.
8. Justin Smoak, 1B, University of South Carolina - If the O's want a college hitter, this might be the guy. A switch-hitter with power to all fields, he has been compared to Mark Teixiera. He hit 11 homers in the Cape after his freshman year. He is a top-notch defensive first baseman and called the best combination of offense and defense at first base in this draft.
The O's First-Round Picks Since 2000
2000 Beau Hale, RHP, University of Texas
2001 Chris Smith, LHP, Cumberland University; Mike Fontenot, 2B, LSU
2002 Adam Loewen, LHP, Fraser Valley HS (Canada)
2003 Nick Markakis, OF, Young Harris JC (Georgia)
2004 Wade Townsend, RHP, Rice University
2005 Brandon Snyder, C, Westfield HS (Virginia)
2006 Billy Rowell, 3B, Bishop Prep (New Jersey)
2007 Matt Wieters, C, Georgia Tech
