Orioles Tab Hobgood With Fifth Pick In Surprise Move

After all the speculation, after all the rumors about Grant Green, Dustin Ackley, Aaron Crow and last but not least, Zack Wheeler, the Baltimore Orioles did a complete 180 and went with Norco High School right-hander Matt Hobgood. Who? If you don't know anything about Hobgood, don't feel too bad. Most people ticketed him as a second or third round pick as recently as last month. So what caused him to rocket up the draft boards? What made him so appealing to the O's that they passed on Alex White, Aaron Crow, Tanner Scheppers and Grant Green? Listen to Joe Jordan, Orioles scouting director, and he'll tell you it was part of the plan the entire time. He admitted after Hobgood's name was announced that he had his eye on the big righty for quite awhile, and scouted him himself as early as February. He did also mention that Wheeler was the other player the O's were targeting with the pick, but in the end it came down to Hobgood. What makes him so appealing? Well, for starters, the ... (link)