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Finding themselves in unusual territory drafting so low in the first round with the 22nd overall pick of the 2013 amateur draft, the Orioles selected high school pitcher Hunter Harvey, the son of former major league closer Bryan Harvey.
A product of Bandys High in North Carolina, the right-handed pitcher has a lively fastball that was clocked in the mid-90s this season and is projected by many as a starting pitcher one day if he can harness command issues common for a talented arm out of high school. His curveball is regarded as a plus-pitch for a high school pitcher as well, but Harvey will need to develop a third pitch, according to many talent evaluators.
“Harvey is a future front-line starter,” directot of scouting Gary Rajsich said. “He is a tall, lean projectable right-handed pitcher with a good fastball, good curve, and a change. He throws strikes, competes, and comes from a baseball family.”
His father collected 177 major league saves and posted a 2.49 earned run average in his nine-year career split between the California Angels and the Florida Marlins.
With Harvey’s selection, the Orioles have now drafted a pitcher with their first-round pick in five of the last six years with high school shortstop Manny Machado being the lone exception in 2010.
