Orioles-Pirates spring training game features four former No. 1 overall picks
Thursday afternoon's spring training game between the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates will feature some of the most promising and youngest players in MLB.
When the host Orioles take the field in the top of the first, they'll have a former No. 1 overall draft pick behind home plate and at second base in Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday, respectively. The duo will be the first two batters for Baltimore in the bottom of the first inning as well, squaring off against the Pirates' most recent top selection (Paul Skenes), who will be teaming up with batterymate (and former No. 1 pick) Henry Davis.
As noted by MLB.com's Jake Rill, the only No. 1 overall pick from the last five drafts who won't be at the game is Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson, who was selected in 2020. Heston Kjerstad will get the start in right field on Thursday for the O's, a 25-year-old who was chosen right after Torkelson four years ago.
Rutschman made his big-league debut in May 2022 and had a productive rookie season, finishing with 13 home runs, 42 RBI and a .254/.362/.445 slash line across 398 at-bats. The backstop was even better in 2023, posting 20 home runs, 80 RBI and a .277/.374/.435 slash line over 588 at-bats covering 154 games.
Rutschman showed terrific plate discipline for the second year in a row, working 92 walks against just 101 strikeouts, earned an All-Star honor and Silver Slugger award and finished ninth in the AL MVP voting.
Davis is the only other former top pick to reach the majors thus far, debuting last June. The former Louisville star registered seven home runs and 24 RBI with a .213/.302/.351 slash line in 225 at-bats over 62 games in 2023.
Davis is locked in as the team's starting catcher for years to come, though could see time at designated hitter and/or in right field in 2024 due to the offseason addition of two-time All-Star backstop Yasmani Grandal.
Holliday seemed to be on the verge of making his debut with Baltimore last season after rolling through the minor leagues. Depending on how spring training goes though, the 20-year-old could find himself back in Triple-A to start the year.
The son of former seven-time All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday hit 12 home runs and posted 75 RBI, 24 stolen bases and a .323/.442/.499 slash line in 125 minor league games last year across four levels of the minors.
Skenes is almost certainly the furthest away from making his big-league debut, as he was only drafted less than eight months ago. The flamethrowing right-hander is just eight months removed from leading LSU to its first College World Series title since 2009, winning the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award in the process.
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