Baltimore Orioles Select Florida State OF D.J. Stewart No. 25 Overall

The Baltimore Orioles have selected Florida State outfielder D.J. Stewart with the 25th pick of the 2015 MLB Draft.

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Stewart drew a NCAA-high 69 walks while hitting .318 with 15 home runs and 59 RBI this season with the Seminoles. The Orioles were rumored to be coveting an outfielder with college experience and they did just that with the selection of Stewart. A lot of scouts were weary of Stewart because of his awkward batting stance.

Here is Baseball America’s scouting report on the Orioles latest draftee:

"“The Yankees drafted Stewart in the 28th round in 2012 out of Jacksonville’s Bolles School, where he had won five state championships (three in football, two in baseball). He chose not to sign and went on to Florida State, where he has built a strong track record of success. He was the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year as a sophomore and led the league in all three triple-slash categories with a line of .351/.472/.557, and in 2015 he was leading the nation with 62 walks and ranked third with a .525 OBP as the season neared its close. Stewart has a quick swing, good plate discipline and the strength to drive the ball, and he’d set a new career high with 12 home runs. He has managed to make his unorthodox stance work in college, but scouts aren’t sold that it will work at the next level. He crouches very low at the plate, which can make it tougher for him to unleash his raw power. Many scouts believe that if he just stands up a little taller, he’ll be able to turn on inside pitches with more consistency and tap into more of his power. Stewart is listed at 6-feet, 230 pounds, but has more athleticism than his frame suggests. He was a running back in high school and his fringe-average speed allows him to cover ground well in the outfield. His below-average arm strength likely limits him to left field, but his powerful bat fits that profile.”"

The Orioles have found success with their recent first round draft picks. Manny Machado has not flashed the glove that has made him a Platinum Glove winner, but he will be an All-Star in this league for years to come. Kevin Gausman has shown that he has what it takes to excel in the Majors. Dylan Bundy is currently dealing with a shoulder injury, but made his debut with the Orioles at 19-years-old.

The Orioles have another selection in the first round at No. 36. The pick was awarded to the team as compensation for Nelson Cruz signing with the Seattle Mariners this offseason. The Orioles will make a another selection at No. 68 tonight in the second round.

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