The 2019 Draft takes center stage in Royals-Orioles series

Adley, Bob, Gunnar, Alec, Joey, Michael, and Vinnie—oh, my!

In 2018, the Kansas City Royals went 58-104. Normally, before the Draft Lottery Era, that would’ve been good (or bad) enough to earn a franchise the first overall pick in the upcoming draft.

But not that year. And it wasn’t even close.

That’s because the Baltimore Orioles completely bottomed out, somehow finishing 11 games back of the Royals by finishing 47-115.

For some context, that’s only six games better than the Chicago White Sox finished this season, and the Sox set the modern-day record for most losses in a season with 121.

The Orioles and Royals ended up drafting 1-2 in the 2019 draft, and there were two highly-touted prospects at the top of draft boards, and the two players were pretty different.

They were Adley Rutschman, a collegiate catcher out of Oregon State, and Bobby Witt Jr., a prep shortstop out of Colleyville, Texas.

Rutschman ended up going first overall to Baltimore while Kansas City didn’t overthink it and snagged Witt with the very next pick. Those two players have played major roles in turning around each franchise’s fortunes over rthe past couple of years.

But they weren’t the only ones from that 2019 draft class who helped turn around these teams. With the first pick of the second round, which was the 42nd overall selection, Baltimore drafted their own shortstop of the future: high-schooler Gunnar Henderson out of Selma, Alabama.

Twenty-eight picks later, the Royals nabbed right-handed pitcher Alec Marsh out of Arizona State.

At the top of the fourth round, with pick No. 108, the Orioles selected another shortstop, this one out of New Mexico State: Joey Ortiz.

With the very next pick, the Royals selected Fighting Illini infielder Michael Massey.

Lastly, seven rounds and over two hundred picks later, Kansas City drafted Old Dominion first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.

All seven of these players have helped the Orioles and Royals get to this Wild Card series:

• Rutschman has been in the majors since 2022, when he finished second for the American League Rookie of the Year. He has made two All-Star games and won a Silver Slugger Award. The second half of 2024 hasn’t been too kind, though: he’s only slashed .207/.282/.303 for a .585 OPS. His bWAR has dropped considerably through the years, too: 5.4 in 2022, 4.4 in 2023, and 3.4 in 2024.
• What more is there to say about Bobby Witt Jr.? The dude is a star, and if not for Aaron Judge, Bob would be collecting his first MVP Award this year. Regardless, he’s guided the Royals to their first playoff appearance since 2015. He’s good in the box and in the field.

• Gunnar Henderson has more career bWAR than any other member of the 2019 draft class, including Bobby Witt Jr., over whom he holds a 16.1 to 14.7 lead. (Bob leads according to fWAR, 18.5 to 13.6, with Rutschman between them.) Henderson debuted in 2022, but won the Rookie of the Year last year to go along with a Silver Slugger. He made his first All-Star team this season as he popped 37 homers and posted an .893 OPS.
• Alec Marsh held down the back end of the Royals starting rotation this season, which was great and rather unforeseen after he struggled in 2023. After starting in Game 162, Marsh finished the year 9-9 in 25 starts (plus one relief appearance) with a 4.53 ERA (seven percent below league average) and a 4.34 FIP. Not bad for a fifth starter. Here’s to making more strides in 2025.
• Joey Ortiz only came to the plate 34 times for the Orioles before an offseason trade sent him to Milwaukee as part of the deal to land Corbin Burnes. Ortiz posted 2.6 bWAR in 142 games for the National League Central champions. Seems like a win-win trade.
• By bWAR, Michael Massey just wrapped up his best big league season to date, as he accumulated 1.7 to raise his career bWAR to 2.4. In nearly 100 fewer at-bats from a season ago, Massey raised his average 30 points, his OBP 20 points, and his slugging percentage 68 points. Overall, his OPS+ jumped from 77 (23% below league average) to 105 (5% above league average).
• Despite a thumb injury that cost him the last month of the regular season, Vinnie Pasquantino posted 1.1 bWAR and 1.5 fWAR (which is a career-best). He did so while raising his slugging percentage and his OPS+ as he drove in 97 runs while corking 19 home runs to go along with 30 doubles. Imagine what this dude could do in a full season.

The future seems bright for all of these players from the 2019 draft class, but, like we’re already seeing with Rutschman, sometimes that doesn’t go according to plan. Some players peak early while others, like Witt Jr. and Henderson, gradually improve. Most likely, though, is a player like Massey and Pasquantino, who ebb and flow over the years.

Neither the Royals nor the Orioles would be in the playoffs without hitting on these pieces in the 2019 draft. The Royals seemingly hit on more players while the Orioles are getting higher production between fewer players.

It’s going to be fun watching Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson as they battle for not only the best pick of the 2019 draft but also to see who’s the best shortstop in the American League.

Winning this series would certainly be a boon for winning those arguments.