Draft Picks Signed & Joe Jordan Interview
The O's did not get 44th-round pick Kevin Brady signed before the midnight deadline. So the hard-throwing RHP will head to Clemson.
The O's did sign two more picks after they finished the Matusz deal. They signed their 25th-round pick catcher Xavier Lopez from a high school in Puerto Rico. They also signed their 45th-round pick RHP Zachary Petersime from Rend Lake College in Indiana.
It was great news when the O's signed top draft pick Brian Matusz. The scouts say the 21-year-old lefty has three "plus" pitches starting with a fastball from 90-93 MPH plus a change and curveball.
This year at San Diego he went 12-2, 1.71 with 141 strikeouts and just 22 walks in 105 innings. He gave up just four homers and pitched three shutouts. In his three seasons with San Diego, he went 26-8, 2.94.
Earlier I had a chance to interview O's scouting director Joe Jordan on today's signing of Matusz.
Steve Melewski's interview with Joe Jordan
Good stuff. When you asked him if Brady was the last guy we'd try to sign, I thought for sure he'd say there are about 8-10 guys total left unsigned and not be specific. But he was honest and said Brady and the 18th round guy are the only guys we're trying to sign by the deadline. Good interview.