Baltimore Orioles 2023 MLB Draft Review

Most Interesting Day 2 Pick: OF Jake Cunningham, 5th round

A Charlotte native who stayed in his hometown to attend college, Cunningham struggled offensively in his 2021 freshman season, but exploded in 2022, when he hit .304/.410/.595 with 16 home runs and 16 stolen bases. Listed at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Cunningham has a big and athletic frame that could still add more weight, with a high-upside package of tools including power, speed and center field defense. His 2023 season started slowly after an ankle injury that limited him early, and he also missed time after getting cleated and needing stitches, but overall he hit .267/.359/.519 with 11 home runs and 14 doubles. It was an injury-plagued, down year for Cunningham when he needed a strong one to reinforce his hitting chops, as scouts have wondered about his pure hit tool thanks to contact concerns and limited track record in summer leagues with a wood bat. Cunningham also struggled against the 92-plus mph velocity his saw this spring. When he does make contact he hits the ball hard and has plus raw power with a 94 mph average exit velocity and 111 mph 90th percentile exit velocity this spring. When healthy he’s also been a plus runner and savvy basestealer, though post-injury in 2023 he stole just one base on one attempt. He has a chance to be an above-average defender in center field with solid arm strength. If he hits Cunningham could be an impact player, but there’s plenty of risk with his pure hit tool.

Most Interesting Day 3 Pick: RHP Tanner Witt, 18th round

Witt ranked as the No. 92 prospect out of high school in the 2020 draft class and was a two-way player at the time, though scouts largely preferred his upside as a power-armed righthander. Witt did log 14 plate appearances in his freshman season with Texas, but he mostly focused on pitching out of the bullpen, where he posted a 3.16 ERA over 57 innings. A transition into the starting rotation in 2022 was cut short after just two appearances, when Witt was scratched for elbow tenderness and eventually had Tommy John surgery that ended his season just 11 innings in. Witt returned to the mound in late May of the 2023 season and was still searching for both his pre-injury stuff and feel. He has a fantastic pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds and has been up to 97 with his fastball in the past, though in his first five outings post-surgery he pitched more in the 90-94 mph range. The pitch has plus riding life and should be a plus offering if he can get it back to the normal mid-90s velocity he has shown in the past. Witt’s go-to secondary is a hammer curveball in the mid 70s with tremendous depth and finish that also has plus potential. His low-80s changeup lags behind but could become a solid third pitch in the arsenal. Witt showed impressive control before getting hurt in 2022, but he has struggled in that area in his brief 2023 looks. He’s a high-risk pitcher with plenty of arm talent and a workhorse starting build.