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SECAUCUS, N.J. – The Baltimore Orioles have selected Adley Rutschman, a receiver from the Oregon State switch, with the first pick in the Major League Baseball draft Monday night.
The announcement at the MLB Network studios marked the second time the Orioles led the repechage – they took the LSU Ben McDonald launcher in 1989.
"That's all I've always dreamed about," Rutschman said in an interview for MLB Network. "It's an incredible feeling and I could not have asked for more."
Rutschman praised Baltimore's leadership at the top and the direction in which the organization is heading.
With choice # 2, the Kansas City Royals grabbed the Texan High School shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., the son of former big pitcher Bobby Witt.
Young Witt has the right to praise his father, who has won 142 games in 16 seasons after being ranked 3rd overall in 1985.
"Now I beat him," said Bobby Witt Jr.
The Witts became the most qualified father-son duo, with Tom Grieve (No. 6, 1966) and Ben Grieve (No. 2, 1994). This is the seventh first-time father-son marriage, and the first since Delino DeShields (1987) and Delino DeShields Jr. (2010).
"Dreams are becoming a reality," said young Witt.
Rutschman, 21, was the general favorite since he led Oregon State to the College World Series championship last year and was selected as the most outstanding player. He then followed with a dominating junior season at the plate – striking .411 with 17 career-best goals with 58 RBIs and a school record with 76 steps – and behind, throwing 13 of the 27 base runners for the beavers.
Rutschman, a native of Sherwood, Oregon, is a Golden Spikes Award finalist awarded to the country's top university player. He was also the Pac – 12 's year – round player and co – advocate of the year of the conference.
His selection marks the seventh time that a selected player as receiver is chosen with the first choice, and the first since Joe Mauer (2001).
Witt Jr., 6 feet and 180 pounds, is considered a stopover of five tools and will turn 19 next Friday. The star of Colleyville Heritage High School has impressive power while establishing constant contact with a good right handed swing.
The first baseman from the University of California, Andrew Vaughn, went to the Chicago White Sox with the third pick.
Vaughn beat .381 this season with 15 home runs, 50 RBIs and a .544 base percentage that ranks among the national leaders. He also showed a tremendous eye to the plate and scored only 74 times in three academic seasons.
The 6-foot, 214-pound Vaughn is also looking to become the first recipient of the Golden Spikes Award after being selected as the country's top university player last year last year.
The Miami Marlins eliminated Vanderbilt player JJ Bleday in 4th place, adding the Southeast Conference Conference Player of the Year who has a quick left-handed strike and leads the Division I players in the tournament. Home runs with a school record 26. A finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Bleday strikes 0.351 and brings a 42-game over-goal streak in the super-regional round of NCAA tournament next weekend.
The San Diego Padres earned the C. J.J. Abrams short stop in Georgia, sixth.
Left-handed Nick Lodolo of the TCU was seventh in the Cincinnati Reds. He will get the entire $ 5.43 million, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Josh Jung, Texas Tech's third baseman, was chosen by the Texas Rangers.
The Atlanta Braves drafted the ninth selection, Shea Langeliers, recipient of Baylor.
Hunter Bishop, of the Arizona State, chosen by the San Francisco Giants, was among the top 10 picks.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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