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Baltimore Orioles: Five Biggest Draft Busts

By Ben Palmer

Apr 25, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Brian Matusz (17) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Brian Matusz (17) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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5. Mark Smith (1991 Draft) – .243/.316/.403, 32 HRs, 125 R, 130 RBIs, 15 SB

The Baltimore Orioles drafted right-handed outfielder Mark Smith out of USC with the ninth-overall pick in the 1991 draft, and he amounted to very little.

Smith never really could find his footing the the MLB, he was 21-years-old when he was drafted, and didn’t make his major-league debut until 1994, when he was 24 (though he only got seven plate appearances that year).

Ultimately, Smith played with the Orioles from 1994 until 1996. His best year of his career came in 1997 with the Pittsburgh Pirates when he hit .285/.374/.503 with 9 HRs and 35 RBIs over 222 plate appearances. However, beyond that one season, he never hit better than .245 and never hit more than six home runs.

Players drafted later: Tyler Green (#10), Shawn Estes (#11), Manny Ramirez (#13), Shawn Greene (#16).

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