The Orioles introduce their first round draft pick catcher Adley Rutschman, who was the No. 1 overall pick. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun video)
In the leadup to the Orioles making the first overall selection in the 2019 draft, first-year executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias brushed off the possibility that the team would pass on one of the draft’s consensus top talents to try to finesse the bonus pool system, much the way the Houston Astros did in 2012 with Elias in an advisory role.
Turns out, that approach wasn’t needed for the Orioles to have the flexibility to pursue their later-round selections.