O's draft two right-handers to open Day 2

Jacksonville University starter Baumann selected in third round

June 13th, 2017

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles started off Day 1 of the 2017 Draft with pitching and they kept at it on Day 2, taking right-handers with their first two selections on Tuesday.
The Draft concludes on Wednesday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 12 p.m. ET.
Round 3: RHP Michael Baumann, Jacksonville University
Baumann graduated from Mahtomedi High School in Minnesota. The 21-year-old was drafted in the 34th round of the 2014 Draft by the Twins, but he chose to attend college at Jacksonville. Listed at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Baumann has touched 95 mph consistently during his starts.
Baumann struck out a career-high 97 batters in his junior year and averaged 10 strikeouts per nine innings. He finished the season with a 5-3 record and a 3.09 ERA. Although Baumann is known for his fastball, he also throws an above-average curveball and slider, and he mixes in a changeup as his fourth pitch.

Round 4: RHP Jack Conlon, Clements HS (Sugar Land, Texas)
Conlon is known to have some life under his fastball, hitting 92-95 mph consistently. When he's not throwing his fastball, Conlon turns to his 81-84 mph slider. The righty doesn't always stay on top of the pitch, causing it to turn into more of a slurve.
The 18-year-old Conlon is committed to Texas A&M, and he has a classic pitcher's build at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds. Conlon missed most of his junior season due to a strained oblique.
According to MLB Pipeline, Conlon was the No. 175 prospect in the Draft. Some scouts think he could be destined for the bullpen, while others believe he could remain a starter if he continues to develop.

Round 5: OF Lamar Sparks, Seven Lakes HS (Katy, Texas)
Sparks, drafted at No. 158 overall, is a center fielder listed at 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds. He was selected earlier than expected, having not been mentioned in MLB.com's Top 200 Draft Prospects list.
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Sparks has good range and footwork. When he wasn't in the outfield, he also spent time on the mound as a right-handed pitcher. Sparks has verbally committed to McLennan Community College, and he was a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American.
Round 6: SS Mason McCoy, University of Iowa
McCoy is 6-feet and 175 pounds. The shortstop is originally from Washington, Ill., and he started his post-high school career at Illinois Central Community College, where he was named Freshman Player of the Year after hitting .394 with five home runs. McCoy transferred to Iowa after his sophomore season.
In McCoy's senior campaign at Iowa, the 22-year-old shortstop had a slash line of .328/.394/.474 with five home runs and 34 RBIs. On the defensive end, he earned the NWL/Rawlings Finest in the Field Award in 2016 after posting a .969 fielding percentage. More >>
Round 7: C Ben Breazeale, Wake Forest University
Breazeale is listed at 6-feet, 210 pounds, and he is from Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The catcher had a standout senior season for Wake Forest, batting .333 with a .540 slugging percentage.
The lefty hitter launched a career-high 11 home runs in 60 games. Prior to his senior year, Breazeale had just five homers in his first three seasons. The catcher also tallied a career-high 51 RBIs this past season. In Wake Forest's second game of the NCAA Super Regionals on Monday, Breazeale hit two homers, one of which came was a walk-off two-run shot in the 11th inning.
Round 8: RHP Jimmy Murphy, Fordham University
Murphy is a 6-foot, 190-pound righty who was a first-time All-Atlantic 10 selection after his senior season at Fordham. The righty has battled some injuries throughout his four-year stint in the Bronx. Murphy missed more than a month of his freshman year with an injury and missed the entire 2014 season.
The 22-year-old Murphy mostly worked out of the bullpen in 2015 and '16 before becoming a full-time starter during his senior campaign. He was 6-7 with a 2.59 ERA in his 2017 season, throwing a career-high 93 2/3 innings. Murphy also struck out a career-high 85 batters and allowed just three home runs, while holding his opponents to a .225 batting average.
Round 9: OF T.J. Nichting, University of North Carolina Charlotte
Nichting is 5-foot-11, 185 pounds. Although he is listed as an outfielder, he also spent time in the infield at UNC Charlotte. In 2015, Nichting started all 48 games of his sophomore year at second base.
Nichting made the transition to outfield in his junior year, when he was named to the NCCSIA All-State Second Team. He posted career-high numbers in his senior season, batting .373 with 49 RBIs, 60 runs, five home runs and four triples. In the field, Nichting had a career-low three errors and posted a .981 fielding percentage.
Round 10: RHP Josh Keaton, Adams State University
Keaton is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed starting pitcher for Adams State in Alamosa, Colo. After making 11 appearances out of the bullpen in 2015 and posting a 3.09 ERA with eight strikeouts, Keaton made the transition to starter in '16.
The 23-year-old Keaton was 4-6 with a 5.52 ERA over 75 innings during the 2017 season. The righty allowed 97 hits, but just three home runs. In his final three starts, Keaton went eight innings in one outing and nine innings in the other two outings. He recorded 13 strikeouts in a complete game against the Colorado School of Mines, and he threw 156 pitches in a complete game against Colorado Mesa.