Looking Back: 2021 Draft Class
Just over one year ago the Orioles drafted 21 players in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft from the fifth overall pick to the 587th. The O’s drafted a total of nine pitchers – all right-handers – six outfielders, four infielders, and a pair of catchers. Four of the 21 selections ranked in the top 250 draft prospects by MLB Pipeline and only one of their selections came out of high school, with the other 20 coming from the college ranks. While it’s still early, many of these players have already made impressions in the lower levels of the Orioles farm system.
Here are some of the most impactful selections of the Orioles’ 2021 draft to familiarize yourself with on the eve of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft.
#4 OF Colton Cowser | Age: 22 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 195
B: L | T: R | Current Level: Double-A Bowie
Colton Cowser was selected fifth overall out of Sam Houston State University, becoming the highest selection in school history. The Texas native currently slates as the 42nd overall prospect and third in the O’s system via MLB Pipeline.
Since being promoted to Double-A Bowie on June 27, the outfielder has slashed .311/.483/.711 (14-for-45) with three doubles, five homers, 11 runs, 10 RBI, 11 walks and a stolen base in his 14 games with the Baysox, including a pair of three-hit games through July 14. Since June 28, his .483 OBP ranks sixth in all of Double-A.
Cowser earned his promotion after batting .258 (19-for-229) with 25 extra-base hits (19-2B, 2-3B, 4 HR), 42 runs, 22 RBI, 45 walks, and 16 stolen bases in 62 games with High-A Aberdeen. The former first-round selection earned his first non-roster invite to Spring Training earlier this year, where he went 2-for-9 with a run, RBI, and four walks in six games. Additionally, he attended fall instructs.
In his first professional season in 2021, Cowser slashed .375/.490/.492 (11-for-22) with eight doubles, two homers, 30 runs, 34 RBI, 25 walks and seven stolen bases across 39 games between the FCL Orioles Orange and Low-A Delmarva.
Before his selection in the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Cowser played for the 2019 Collegiate National team, and was named MVP of the Cuba series after leading the team in batting average (.438) and runs (6) during the five-game series. Cowser hit .374/.490/.680 (76-for-203) with 16 home runs, 10 doubles, two triples, 61 runs, 52 RBI, and 42 walks in 55 games during his junior season in 2021 and was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year.
#1 2B Connor Norby | Age: 22 | HT: 5-10 | WT: 187
B: R | T: R | Current Level: Double-A Bowie
Connor Norby was drafted in the second round with the 41st overall pick out of East Carolina University, the fourth-highest selection in school history, ranking as the Orioles’ ninth prospect by MLB Pipeline and the team’s 11th prospect by Baseball America. As of July 14, the righty has slashed .294/.400/.510 (15-for-51) with five doubles, 13 runs, four RBI, eight walks, and three stolen bases in his 14 games with Double-A Bowie after being promoted on June 27.
Last year, Norby made his professional debut with the FCL Orioles on August 2 . He went on to hit .264 (32-for-121) with six doubles, a triple, three homers, 20 runs, 19 RBI, 22 walks, and six stolen bases across 33 games between FCL Orioles Orange and Low-A Delmarva.
Prior to being selected by the Orioles, Norby batted .421 (102-for-242) at East Carolina in 2021, hitting safely in 30 of his first 31 games. The American Athletic Conference Player of the yYear led NCAA Division I with 102 hits and finished with a team-leading 15 home runs, .484 on-base percentage, 51 RBI, and eight stolen bases.
#2 OF John Rhodes | Age: 21 | HT: 6-0 | WT: 200
B: R | T: R | Current Level: High-A Aberdeen
John Rhodes was selected in the third round and 76th overall by the Orioles in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Kentucky. He currently ranks as the Orioles No. 18 Orioles prospect by Baseball America and the No. 20 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
Rhodes has spent his entire 2022 season with High-A Aberdeen, where the 21-year-old has slashed .241/.381/.401 (39-for-162) with 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 37 runs, 26 RBI, 30 walks, and 14 stolen bases in 48 games through July 14.
In his first professional season in 2021, Rhodes hit .259 (28-for-108) with 23 RBI and 12 walks between FCL Orioles Orange, FCL Orioles Black, and Low-A Delmarva. The outfielder finished the year with Low-A Delmarva, where he slashed .266/.343/.372 (25-for-94) with a pair of home runs, 20 runs, 18 RBI, nine walks, and six stolen bases in 23 games.
#16 RHP Carlos Tavera | Age: 23 | HT: 6-1 | WT: 195
B: R | T: R | Current Level: High-A Aberdeen
Carlos Tavera was drafted in the fifth round of the University of Texas at Arlington. The right-handed slinger has spent his entire 2022 season with the Aberdeen IronBirds where he has pitched to a 3-2 record with a 3.93 ERA (22 ER/50.1 IP) in 13 High-A starts as of July 14.
The Texas native earned South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Month honors for May 2022 after repping an 0.49 ERA (1 ER/18.1 IP), 0.60 WHIP, and .098 (6-for-61) batting average against across four starts. He allowed just six hits while tallying 26 strikeouts compared to five walks.
Tavera was also named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for June 12 after throwing 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and two walks, while striking out eight on June 8 at Brooklyn (G1).
In his first professional season in 2021, he boasted a 2.25 ERA (3 ER/12.0 IP) in six appearances (three starts) with Low-A Delmarva. Four of his six outings were scoreless, limiting opponents to a .105 (4-for-38) batting average.
#32 RHP Peter Van Loon | Age: 23 | HT: 6-5 | WT: 210
B: R | T: R | Current Level: High-A Aberdeen
Peter Van Loon was drafted in the 16th round out of the University of California – Irvine. As of July 14, Van Loon has pitched to an 8-1 record with a 3.02 ERA (19 ER/56.2 IP) in 16 appearances (nine starts) with High-A Aberdeen. The 23-year-old has surrendered just four home runs this season, tallying 66 strikeouts compared to just 20 walks. On June 18, Van Loon spun 5.0 scoreless innings as part of a combined no-hitter against Jersey Shore.
Last year, the righty made his professional debut with Low-A Delmarva where he finished with an 0-1 record and a 3.46 ERA (5 ER/13.0 IP) in six appearances (two starts). He didn’t walk a single batter, while striking out 16.
While the 2021 draftees haven’t made their way to Oriole Park yet, their development in MLB Pipeline’s top-ranked farm system where fans can follow along on their journey to the Show.
Sunday night Mike Elias and the Orioles’ baseball operations department will be left with the decision of who to draft No. 1 overall to add to the plethora of talent already within the Orioles’ system. Following this year’s draft, Birdland Insider will have recap the newest additions to the farm.