Orioles’ First‑Round Pick Eric Booth Jr. Signals Future-Focused Approach

With the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Baltimore Orioles stuck to their script and picked another outfielder, this time selecting one of the top high school prospects, Eric Booth Jr. This pick continued the Orioles’ streak of not picking pitching in the first round, with the last one coming all the way back in 2018, when the Orioles selected Grayson Rodriguez with the No. 11 pick.

After an up-and-down season, the team has hit plenty of lows and highs. Many fans wanted the team to pick a pitcher, something the team has been lacking for quite a while. When the San Francisco Giants took UC Santa Barbara pitcher Jackson Flora with the fourth overall pick, it was clear to many fans that the streak of not drafting a pitcher in the first round would continue.

By picking Booth, the Orioles are clearly looking towards the future instead of looking to draft someone who could quickly make their way through the team’s minor league system. MLB scouts on a 20-80 scale graded Booth’s tools as:

1. Hit: 55
2. Power: 50
3. Run: 70
4. Arm: 50
5. Field: 55
6. Overall: 60

Why the Orioles Chose Eric Booth Jr.

Baltimore’s decision to take Booth, a talented high schooler, instead of a college kid who could rise through the system proves Mike Elias and the front office are looking for the future instead of what could help the present. Booth fits the mold perfectly for the type of player Baltimore likes to draft. A young, talented player who is carried by his elite athletic ability and his game-changing speed.

While some fans were frustrated that they didn’t take a pitcher, with the Giants drafting Jackson Flora in the first, it was clear there wasn’t another pitching prospect worth taking the gamble with a top-ten pick. This is especially clear under Mike Elias ‘ tenure in Baltimore; the highest pick spent on a pitcher was in the second round, with the No. 58 pick in last year’s draft being LHP Joseph Dzierwa.

Orioles ’ Draft Identity and Why Booth Fits

Since joining the Orioles in 2018, Elias has spent every first‑round pick on position players.

• 2025 No. 19 Ike Irish, C, Auburn
• 2025 No. 30 Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina
• 2025 No. 31 Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas
• 2025 No. 37 Slater de Brun, OF, Summit HS
• 2024 No. 22 Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
• 2024 No. 32 Griff O’Ferrall, SS, Farragut HS
• 2023 No. 17 Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF, Vanderbilt
• 2022 No. 1 Jackson Holliday, 2B, Stillwater HS
• 2022 No. 33 Dylan Beavers, OF, California
• 2021 No. 5 Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston
• 2020 No. 2 Heston Kjerstad, OF, Arkansas
• 2020 No. 30 Jordan Westburg, 3B, Mississippi State
• 2019 No. 1 Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State

The history is clear: the Orioles love taking position players, and this year’s draft was no different. For many Baltimore fans, it has been frustrating the last few years. Back in 2023, the team went 101-61, and in 2024, they went 91-71. This year included the Achilles heel of the team: the lack of consistency on the mound.

While fans may be disappointed, it’s clear the front office fell in love with Booth’s talent. Will Robertson, the Orioles’ vice president of domestic scouting, explained the organization’s excitement with MLB.com, saying: “We like a lot about Booth. He has a huge engine, as we call it. He’s super powerful, both running the bases and moving the bat. That leads to impact outcomes, both defensively in center field and offensively with the power-speed combination.”

Robertson’s comments show how the team is willing to take a gamble on a young prospect who is overflowing with talent. At the same time, it’s true that fans won’t be seeing him anytime soon. It has proven to work out well when they draft players out of high school. Just look at the recent track record: Jackson Holliday in 2022, Grayson Rodriguez in 2018, DL Hall in 2017, and Gunnar Henderson in 2019 (a second‑round steal at No. 42).

What Fans Should Expect Moving Forward

All four of those players were drafted out of high school but developed into major league talent. That’s the blueprint the Orioles are going for: developing young players and building the roster by trusting the system. The Orioles believe they can fix their pitching issue through other means in the draft, whether by trade or free agency.

Booth fits the plan: a high-upside player who could pay massive dividends in the future. Baltimore isn’t ignoring pitching in the draft; they’re just going at it a different way. While the team is betting on talent, they have proven time after time that they know what they’re doing. Fans need to have a little more patience and trust in the system so they can finally reap the rewards.