EP 93: "The Bird's Nest" presents: The MLB Draft preview

·1 hr 7 min·5 clips

Brennan and Annie reveal they haven't slept all week preparing for the Orioles' crucial MLB draft.

The episode opens with hosts Brennan Mortensen and Annie Klaff in the 'Bird's Nest' at Camden Yards, emphasizing the MLB Draft as their busiest and most exciting time of year. They begin with big-league news, detailing the Orioles' catching injury crisis that has sidelined four catchers, including starter Gary Sanchez for 8-10 weeks. The conversation shifts to the draft, noting the Orioles have picks 19, 30, and 31, a key opportunity to replenish a farm system that has graduated and traded talent. The hosts outline the organization's draft strategy under Mike Elias and Matt Blood, emphasizing they do not draft for immediate big-league need. Brennan delivers a detailed rebuttal to critics who say the Orioles should draft pitchers early, reviewing pitchers they 'passed on' since 2019 and finding no clear misses. They explain the successful 'draft bats, trade for arms' model, citing the acquisitions of Corbin Burnes and Trevor Rogers. The core of the episode is a deep dive into the traits the Orioles value: loud exit velocities, low chase rates, and elite athleticism. They then profile a list of potential draft targets for pick 19, including college outfielders Jace LaViolette and hitters like Xavier Nwans and Gavin Fien from the high school ranks. Other names discussed are Andrew Fisher, Gavin Keelan, and Merrick Houston. The hosts give their final predictions, both selecting Jace LaViolette as the most likely pick. The episode concludes with promotional details for their live draft coverage on Sunday night.

As heard by us

Baltimore's three early picks anchor a focused draft-night discussion about shortstops, college bats, and roster context.

Baltimore's draft position drives the episode, with three picks in the first 31 shaping a practical look at how the board might fall. The hosts focus on a deep high school shortstop group and how that could leave stronger college hitters available to the Orioles at No.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want a draft-night seat in the Bird's Nest as Baltimore sizes up three high picks that could make a real farm-system impact?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from MASN All Access Podcast: Orioles