The Orioles have high hopes for the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft June 12-14.
The Orioles drafted poorly for a number of years, but their winning teams of the past several years have included some excellent picks, especially in the first round: right fielder Nick Markakis (2003), catcher Matt Wieters (2007) and third baseman Manny Machado (2010).
When executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette joined the Orioles in November 2011, he vowed to improve the team's minor league system, and while it's unquestionably better than it was when he came, it still hasn't produced the volume the team wants and needs to contend.
