Dan Connolly

Draft update: O’s sign most of Top 20; Palmeiro, Bonilla, Blohm not signed yet

By Dan Connolly

Posted on July 7, 2016

With roughly a week left to sign 2016 draft picks, the Orioles have pretty much inked all of their first 20-rounders, though a few of the players that are not in the fold yet are some of the more recognizable names in that group.

According to Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich, the Orioles’ highest drafted player this June that has not signed is North Carolina State first baseman Preston Palmeiro, a seventh-rounder who is the son of former Orioles’ great Rafael Palmeiro.

Rajsich, who doesn’t publicly go into details of the team’s negotiations, said he is optimistic that the club can still agree to terms with Palmeiro (pictured above), but talks are currently at a standstill.

Another son of a former Oriole, left-hander Brandon Bonilla out of Hawaii Pacific University, has not signed. The 13th rounder is the son of longtime major league outfielder Bobby Bonilla.

The Orioles also have not reached terms with Archbishop Spalding lefty Tyler Blohm, who was selected in the 17th round. Rajsich said Blohm, a member of BaltimoreBaseball.com’s inaugural Diamond Nine team, had indicated he was headed to the University of Maryland to play collegiate baseball. But Rajsich said the club is still open to negotiating with Blohm.

Deals must be agreed to by 5 p.m. on July 15 – a week from Friday.

Rajsich said he believes the club will sign roughly 32 to 33 of their 41 picks, including almost all of their Top 20.

“I’m very pleased,” Rajsich said. “I thought we had a good draft, and I’m excited for them all to get going and seeing them play.”

In another Orioles’ note, the team announced that Pedro Alvarez has been activated from the bereavement list. He’ll be in uniform Friday.