SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) — Pitchers took a backseat at the Major League Baseball draft.
On a night when a record 22 position players and nine shortstops were chosen in the first round, the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles went for a cornerstone at catcher, selecting Oregon State switch-hitter Adley Rutschman with the top pick Monday.
Rutschman became the first catcher to go No. 1 since Minnesota tabbed Joe Mauer in 2001.
“He’s everything you want and he plays a premium defensive position with athleticism that gives him versatility to play elsewhere, as needed,” first-year Baltimore general manager Mike Elias said in a video statement posted on the team’s Twitter account .