MLB Draft 2017: Analysis, reaction to Baltimore Orioles Day 1 draft picks

The Baltimore Orioles used their first-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft to select left-handed pitcher D.L. Hall.

The Baltimore Orioles possessed a total of three draft picks in Day 1 of the 2017 MLB Draft, first-year players, which included the first two rounds of this year’s draft. The American League East’s fourth-place team owned the No. 21 overall pick and essentially two second-round picks, No. 60 and No. 70 overall.

The Orioles went straight to work on improving one of the worst pitching staffs in MLB by drafting high school left-handed pitcher D.L. Hall with the No. 21 overall pick on Monday night.

Day 2 of the MLB Draft continues Tuesday with rounds 4-10 taking place, which you watch via MLB.com live stream. Below is the list of Orioles Draft picks from Day 1 with highlight videos and brief analysis.

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Round 1, No. 21: LHP D.L. Hall

Ranked No. 4 in Baseball America’s High School Top 100, the southpaw became the first high-school player from Warner Robins, GA to be selected in the first round since 1994, per ESPN.

The 6-foot pitcher from Valdosta High has a three-pitch arsenal includes a fastball that clocks out at 92-93 miles per hour with a max velocity of 95 miles per hour. Despite an accomplished fastball, Hall’s prizewinning pitch is his crushing curve that usually buckles the knees of opposing batters.

Senior writer for MLB.com Jim Callis compares Hall to MLB pitcher Scott Kazmir:

"Callis: I think Hall has the potential to be a great value for the Orioles here at No.21. He’s a smaller left-hander who draws comparisons to Scott Kazmir with his low-90s fastball and overpowering curve. Based purely on talent, he could have gone five or so picks higher."

The 18-year-old southpaw, who committed to Florida State has already received high expectations from Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich with projections of Hall joining the Orioles rotation in the near future.

Round 2, No. 60: SS Adam Hall

Next, the Orioles go back-to-back on Hall as they selected shortstop Adam Hall from London, Ontario, at No. 60 in the second-round.

The Canadian prep out of A.B. Lucas Secondary School is registered at 5-foot-11 at 165 pounds as he prepares to play college baseball at Texas A&M.

Hall blazing speed is what placed him No. 36 in Baseball America’s 2017 Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects and No. 99 overall in their BA 500. According to PerfectGame.org, Hall ran a 6.29 in the sixty with quick feet and a collection of tools.

Hall was a member of the Canadian Junior National Team and recipient of the Canadian Futures Award presented by Baseball Canada. At the young age of 18, Hall has plenty of time to calibrate his skills as a right-handed hitter and at the shortstop position.

Round 2, No. 74: LHP Zac Lowther

With such a dire need for left-handed pitchers, the Orioles concluded Day 1 by drafting their second lefty of the day Zac Lowther with the No. 74 overall pick.

Unlike the Orioles first two draft picks from Day 1, Lowther has been playing at Xavier University and became the highest MLB draft selection in Xavier baseball history. The 2017 Preseason All-BIG EAST player has pitched well this season at Xavier as the junior has tossed 83.1 innings with a 2.92 ERA.

Earlier this season, Lowther pitched eight innings with 16 strikeouts and yielded and gave up his only earned run of the game in the ninth inning. Lowther has already surpassed his strikeout total from last season with 123 strikeouts in 2017.

Here’s footage of the mesmerizing strikeout ability from the junior lefty:

Next: Why the Orioles should go in rebuild mode

Day 2 of the 2017 MLB Draft begins at 1:00 p.m. ET on MLB.com which features rounds 3-10 before wrapping up the three-day event on Wednesday. Make sure to stay here for more compelling content from the Baltimore Orioles in the MLB Draft.