Orioles reach agreements with two of highest draft picks (updated)

The Orioles have reached agreements with two of their top four picks from the First-Year Player Draft. The club has come to terms with lefty pitcher Zac Lowther of Xavier, whom the club selected No. 74 overall with a Competitive Balance Round B pick. The Orioles also came to terms with right-handed pitcher Michael Baumann, taken in round three (No. 98 overall) from Jacksonville University.

In addition to that, the Orioles are said to be making strong progress toward an agreement with their top pick, high school left-hander DL Hall. Hall was drafted No. 21 overall out of Valdosta (Ga.) High School.

Lowther, 21, went 5-5 with a 2.92 ERA in 15 starts for Xavier University this season and led the Big East Conference with 123 strikeouts. He was named to the Preseason All-Big East team as a junior in 2017. In 2016, as a sophomore, Lowther went 7-5 with a 3.09 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 16 starts. He tied for the conference lead in strikeouts and in innings pitched, and was named to the All-Big East second team and all-conference all-academic team. He led the Cape Cod League in strikeouts (54) during the 2016 summer season.

This season, the 21-year-old Baumann made 14 starts, going 5-3 with a 3.09 ERA. Over 87 1/3 innings, he allowed 70 hits with 35 walks and 97 strikeouts. He has a four-pitch mix. Baumann was ranked as the No. 103 prospect for this draft by Baseball America. In its scouting report on him, Baseball America said his fastball touches the mid-90s and has topped out at 97 mph. He was drafted in round 34 by Minnesota out of high school in 2014, but did not sign.

The alloted signing bonus amount for the No. 60 pick is $1,068,700 and for the No. 74 selection is $779,500. The slot amount for top pick Hall is $2,892,400, and it is possible the Orioles will need to go higher than that to get that deal done.

Updated: The Orioles have announced the signings of 27 total draft picks including Lowther and Baumann. Here are the others:

Round 6: IF Mason McCoy
Round 7: C Ben Breazeale
Round 8: RHP Jimmy Murphy
Round 9: OF T.J. Nichting
Round 10: RHP Josh Keaton
Round 11: UTLY Trevor Craport
Round 12: LHP Tucker Baca
Round 13: RHP Reed Hayes
Round 14: LHP Cameron Ming
Round 15: 1B JC Escarra
Round 18: OF Jacob Brown
Round 20: RHP Scott Burke
Round 21: C Jose Montanez
Round 22: C Luke Ringhofer
Round 23: C Bryndan Arredondo
Round 25: 3B Willy Yahn
Round 27: RHP Nick Vichio
Round 28: OF Zach Jarrett
Round 29: LHP Matt Hammonds
Round 30: OF Will Robertson
Round 31: OF Robbie Thorburn
Round 32: 2B Max Hogan
Round 33: LHP Ryan Wilson
Round 34: RHP Tim Naughton
Round 36: SS Tyler Coolbaugh