Orioles Leap At Chance To Draft D.L. Hall

The Orioles adhered to their preference for pitchers in the first round of the draft. However, they surprised some pundits by selecting a high school arm.

Lefthander D.L. Hall, who was the 21st overall selection out of Valdosta (Ga.) High, throws a fastball that sits at 92-95 mph, with the ability to touch 96, plus a curveball and changeup.

“We’re very excited that he was available for our first selection,” scouting director Gary Rajsich said. “We really couldn’t be happier. D.L. is an exciting pitcher.

“He’s polished, he has a good delivery, he has a good repertoire of pitches, a good fastball, a good curveball. I think he throws a slider as well, and a good changeup”

The Orioles project Hall to be a big league starter.

“We weren’t real thrilled with our options (at that point in the draft),” Rajsich said, “but we were ready with our contingency picks. I don’t know why D.L. fell there. I don’t know what the clubs in front of us were thinking, but we weren’t planning on him being there originally.”

Hall is the first high school pitcher chosen by the Orioles in the first round since Hunter Harvey in 2013. Harvey is recovering from Tommy John surgery and could return later this summer.

“It was a very exciting, emotional time,” Hall said. “It’s always cool to hear your name called on television, and tonight was just a huge night for me and my family . . . It’s a very exciting, very emotional time for me and my dad. We’ve done it all together, my whole life, the whole baseball experience.”

Hall committed to Florida State, but the Orioles are confident they can sign him.

“It’s a tough decision,” Hall said. “I grew up a huge Florida State Seminoles fan, but I trust that me and my family will make the right decision here in the coming days  . . . But either way, I think it’s a blessing to have both of those opportunities, and I couldn’t be more thankful either way.”