Delmonico played some catcher in high school but fits better at third base going forward.
The Orioles have agreed to terms with sixth round pick Nick Delmonico, a 19-year-old third baseman out of Farragut HS (TN), according to Delmonico himself.
There were reports that it was going to take first round money to pull Delmonico away from his Georgia commitment. Terms of the deal are not yet known.
Delmonico played some catcher in high school but fits better at third base going forward. He has a smooth left handed swing, an advanced approach at the plate, and a high baseball IQ.
From our mailbag:
Outside of Dylan Bundy, Delmonico is the second toughest sign out of the 2011 draft. He’s a high school hitter with a professional approach at the plate. An extreme baseball IQ allows him to be selective at the plate and he shows solid plate discipline that is something you rarely see out of the high school ranks.
He’s all projection and should be an above average hitter with the chance for above average power. The improvements in both aspects will greatly depend on health and maturation. His ability was zapped a great deal this spring because of back issues, but most feel that it is not a problem long term.
Delmonico was trying his hand at catcher because he has plus arm strength, but the Orioles see otherwise and like his ability to play third. He shows the quick reactions to play the hot corner and if a move is necessary, his skills, footwork and athleticism would allow him to play RF in the future.
At one point in time this kid was in the top 15 draft prospects and was considered one of the better bats from the high school ranks. He was always a top 100 prospect, but the injuries made teams pause and he dropped into the late middle rounds because of the bonus demands.
Nick Delmonico Scouting Report >>
Updated 2011 Draft Tracker >>
Discuss Nick Delmonico in our MLB Draft forum >>
