Orioles Add Pitching With Sedlock
BALTIMORE—The Orioles carried through with their desire to find pitching early in the 2016 draft, selecting Illinois righthander Cody Sedlock with the 27th overall pick.
Sedlock was the Big Ten Conference’s pitcher of the year as a junior after going 5-3, 2.49 in 14 starts, including two complete games. He allowed 80 hits in 101 innings, with 31 walks, 116 strikeouts and just four home runs.
Sedlock finished his three seasons at Illinois with a 2.96 ERA in 164 innings.
The scouting reports on Sedlock mention a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball that touches the mid-90s and two breaking balls. He flashes a plus slider.
Speculation in the industry suggests that Sedlock, a reliever his first two years at Illinois, could transition to the bullpen in pro ball. However, the Orioles wanted him as a starter and will give him every chance to succeed in that role.
“Cody is a durable college starting pitcher with a good arm,” scouting director Gary Rajsich said. “He has a good fastball, good breaking pitches, good feel for a changeup and good control.”
Sedlock is listed at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. He turns 21 later this month.
Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb offered the following comments on Sedlock via the school’s Twitter account:
“The Orioles are getting an outstanding young man in Cody Sedlock. Cody’s work on and off the field has made him deserving of a first-round pick. It has been impressive to watch his development on the mound and in the weight room over the past three years. He’s a great competitor. I really respect him as a person and for what he did for our program.”
The Orioles received the first-round pick as compensation for lefthander Wei-Yin Chen signing with the Marlins. They lost their own pick at No. 14 after signing Yovani Gallardo, who’s currently on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis.
The slot value for the 27th pick is $2.098 million.
Louisiana State’s Kevin Gausman was the last college pitcher chosen by the Orioles with their first pick in 2012. Before him, San Diego southpaw Brian Matusz went fourth overall in 2008.
BIRD SEED
• In the second round, the Orioles selected Western Michigan lefthander Keegan Akin. He went 7-4, 1.82 in 17 starts, with 30 walks and 133 strikeouts in 109 innings. Akin was named Mid-American Conference tournament MVP after winning twice in five days and allowing only an unearned run in 13 2/3 innings.
• Low Class A Delmarva catcher Yermin Mercedes, catcher Alex Murphy, and righthanders Garrett Cleavinger and Ryan Meisinger were chosen as South Atlantic League all-stars.
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