Outside of the first round, the Orioles might not get much out of their 2010 draft, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun writes. Of course, their first-rounder, third overall pick Manny Machado, has turned out quite well. It's not automatic that the third overall pick will be a success, as Connolly points out — other recent third overall picks have included Philip Humber, Jeff Clement, and Donavan Tate. Connolly suggests fans should be happy with the 2010 draft, even if the Orioles don't end up getting anyone but Machado from it. Here are more notes from the American League.
- Free agent infielder Cesar Izturis has received offers to play at Triple-A, but he's holding out for a big-league opportunity, MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo tweets. Izturis opted out of his minor-league deal with the Astros last month.
- The Rangers join the long list of teams that have interest in free-agent reliever Joel Hanrahan, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman writes. Hanrahan is recovering from arm troubles that cost him most of last season. He lives near Dallas.
- Shortstop Jason Bartlett, who recently retired, is interested in coaching in the Twins organization, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. There are not any openings right now, since the season has already started.
If Dan Klein (3rd round) didn’t have to retire due to injury he would of been a major league pitcher. He had a 0.93 era with a 0.802 WHIP while striking out over 10 per 9 innings in his brief minor league career.
Would of been a dynamic relief pitcher had his arm not blown out several times. That would of made that draft look a lot better for the O’s, but you can do worse than one player like Machado in a draft… much worse.
I appreciate what you’re trying to say, but I’m not sure if you can necessarily say he was a sure fire majorleague reliever.
I appreciate Klein’s talent, but most established MLB relievers were actually starters in the minors. And, in spite of Klein’s talent, he never really got off long sustained runs in any role in the minors. All his stats are really sample sizes.
It was well known in the industry that he would be a relief pitcher as the pros (he was a closer in college). I don’t know if you ever saw him but his stuff was electric.