2022 MLB Draft odds: Orioles, Diamondbacks in race to finish with top overall pick, chance at touted prospect Elijah Green
Not all of the interesting races in the final week of the MLB season are near the top of the standings.
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While the NBA and NHL have draft lotteries to help control tanking among their teams, Major League Baseball has no such thing. Thus, one very interesting race to watch the final week of the regular season is between the Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks to finish with the worst record and the top pick in the 2022 Amateur Draft – the early consensus No. 1 prospect via most sites is Florida high school five-tool center fielder Elijah Green.
Baltimore and Arizona are both 50-106 and no other team can catch them for the worst record. If they were to finish with the same record, the tiebreaker is the worst record the season before. Well, the Orioles and Diamondbacks both were 25-35 in the shortened 2020 campaign. Baltimore had the worst record in 2019 if that's the next tiebreaker.
The Orioles have the tougher remaining six games as they host the Boston Red Sox for three starting Tuesday night and then visit the Toronto Blue Jays for three this weekend. Both clubs are battling for an AL wild-card spot. The Orioles have already said Manager Brandon Hyde is coming back next year.
The Diamondbacks visit the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants for three starting Tuesday night and then host the nothing-to-play for Colorado Rockies for three to close things out. Snakes manager Torey Lovullo recently got an extension through 2022.
As for Green, he plays for prep powerhouse IMG Academy in Florida and has committed to the University of Miami but isn't likely to end up there. He is the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl tight end Eric Green (also played for a few other teams).
MLB.com ranks Cal Poly shortstop Brooks Lee as the top college prospect. Lee could have been a first-round selection when he came out of high school in 2019 but he opted to play in college.
Baltimore last picked first overall in the 2019 draft and took Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman. He should be in the majors early next season as MLB.com ranks him as the No. 1 overall prospect in the sport. Arizona last picked first in 2015 and took Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson, who is now playing for the Braves. The last high schooler picked No. 1 was Royce Lewis by the Twins in 2017. He missed the entire 2021 minor-league season with a torn ACL.
Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Which team will pick first in the 2022 MLB Draft?
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