Melanie Newman gave Orioles fans plenty to latch onto during the first day of the MLB Draft broadcast.
The MASN host and commentator, who also works play-by-play on both radio and TV while handling pregame, postgame, and on-field interviews, was on MLB Network duty for the draft. That meant the broadcast wasn’t an Orioles show by any stretch, but Newman still managed to work in a steady run of Baltimore connections that made the night a little more fun for Orioles viewers.
One of the first names to surface was Trey Gibson, the Orioles’ top pitching prospect, when the Rays selected Ben Blair out of Liberty University. Gibson also went to Liberty, though he went undrafted in 2023. He debuted earlier this season, and while most baseball fans probably don’t know him yet, he’s a major name for Orioles fans who are hoping he can lock down a rotation spot next season.
Tyler O’Neill also got a mention when the Padres drafted Elliott Lascelles, who is from Ontario like O’Neill. Newman pointed out the connection, and while O’Neill may not be the best Canadian baseball player or the most famous one, he is the most Oriole.
Nick Markakis came up more than once. He was noted as a notable No. 7 pick, and later in the day Newman circled back to him again when another player from Markakis’ high school was selected.
John Means was another familiar Orioles name in the mix. His college connection came up when the Cardinals drafted Dawson Montesa out of West Virginia, the same school Means attended. Means hasn’t been a major-league factor for a while because of injury, but Orioles fans still remember his role during the rebuild and, of course, his no-hitter.
Rico Garcia also entered the conversation, though that one came from co-host Lance Brozdowski rather than Newman. Still, it counted as another Orioles-adjacent nod. Garcia has had a rough stretch after a strong start, but he’s done enough to be used as a draft comparison, which says something about how far he’s come after looking like he might be out of the league a few years ago.
The final Orioles tie-in was a simple one, but it landed. When the Reds took Ethan Norby in the fourth round, Newman added that his brother, Connor Norby, is on the Marlins. Connor Norby had been a former Orioles prospect, and the mention came just before the segment moved on.
The MLB Draft is a tougher broadcast to carry than the other major sports drafts, but the hosts kept the pace moving and seemed to know the players they were talking about. For Orioles fans, the extra references to familiar names helped make the night even more watchable.
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Orioles Just Doubled Down On Their Biggest Problem Since Cedric Mullins
The Orioles spent their first two draft picks trying to address a spot that has been unsettled since Cedric Mullins moved on, and they did it with a pair of center fielders who fit very different timelines. First came high schooler Eric Booth Jr., a defensive-minded prospect with plenty of tools and the kind of upside clubs dream on in the first round, followed by NC State sophomore Ty Head, a more polished bat who gives Baltimore a second crack at the same position with a different profile.
It is a clear sign the Orioles are not treating center field as a one-off need but as a problem worth attacking from multiple angles. Booth brings the long view and the glove, while Head offers a quicker path if his power keeps coming, but both picks also underline how much development still stands between Baltimore and a real answer in the middle of the outfield. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Middle Round Draft Picks Say A Lot About Their Plan
The Orioles kept leaning into their usual draft profile in the middle rounds, adding a familiar name and a polished college arm as the amateur draft moved through its second day. Baltimore took shortstop Jimmy Anderson out of Heartland Community College in the fifth round, then followed by selecting left-hander Zane Adams from Alabama in the sixth, continuing a run of picks that hints at how the club wants to stock its system.
Anderson is no stranger to the organization, having been drafted by Baltimore before, and his return to the Orioles board gives the pick a little extra intrigue as the draft heads toward its Sunday evening finish. Adams brings a different kind of appeal from the SEC, and together the two selections fit the broader pattern of a front office that seems comfortable mixing upside, familiarity and college experience as it builds out the class. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Suffer Brutal Blaze Alexander Setback Just As Momentum Builds
Blaze Alexanders rise has been one of the more useful developments for Baltimore this season, with the versatile infielder giving the Orioles production and flexibility all over the field. He has been a steady presence in the lineup and a defensive option at multiple spots, which is part of what made his latest setback so frustrating for a club trying to keep momentum going.
The injury came after he was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning against Kansas City, and the aftermath added even more edge to an already tense moment. Baltimore now has to sort through the ripple effects while Alexander waits for further evaluation during the All-Star break, leaving the Orioles to manage a key piece of their roster without knowing how long they will be without him. [Read more 🡒]