I honestly have not followed the draft as closely this year than in the past. I’ve been on travel the last few days, so I really have not kept abreast of things.
However, the Orioles did go ahead and get another pitcher in this year’s MLB First Year Player Draft. This looks like a very solid pick in a draft that many have said does not have a transcendent player.
The draft will go over three days. Rounds 2-15 will take place on Wednesday; meanwhile, rounds 16-40 happen on Thursday.
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Orioles select RHP Kevin Gausman in first round of draft
The Orioles tonight selected RHP KEVIN GAUSMAN of Louisiana State University with their first selection in the 2012 First Year Player Draft, the fourth overall pick of the draft.
Gausman, 21, is a 6-foot-4, 185-pound draft-eligible sophomore from Centennial, CO. He went 11-1 with a 2.72 ERA (115.2IP, 35ER), 128 strikeouts, 27 walks and two complete games in 16 starts for LSU this season. Gausman was 5-6 with a 3.51 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 89.2 innings in his freshman season in 2011. He was originally selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2010 First Year Player Draft after being named a two-time All-State selection, two-time Perfect Game High School All-American, 2009 Under Armour All-American, 2009 AFLAC All-American and gold medal winner with the USA Baseball Junior National Team.
Gausman becomes the third Orioles’ first round pick out of LSU, joining MIKE FONTENOT (2001 – 19th overall) and BEN MCDONALD (1989 – 1st overall).
