masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIt has been quite a day for Orioles’ first-round draft pick DL Hall, the prep lefty from Valdosta, Ga. He officially signed with the organization earlier today. He made his first visit to Baltimore and Camden Yards and got introduced to the Baltimore media during a press conference before tonight’s game.
“It’s been really exciting and it is an awesome experience for me and my family,” Hall said. “It has been fun getting to know Baltimore. An overall fun experience. This is an awesome…

It has been quite a day for Orioles‘ first-round draft pick DL Hall, the prep lefty from Valdosta, Ga. He officially signed with the organization earlier today. He made his first visit to Baltimore and Camden Yards and got introduced to the Baltimore media during a press conference before tonight’s game.

“It’s been really exciting and it is an awesome experience for me and my family,” Hall said. “It has been fun getting to know Baltimore. An overall fun experience. This is an awesome facility. Everything I’ve seen so far has been amazing.”

Hall was signed today to a $3 million bonus, which was slightly over the slot amount of $2,892,400 for the No. 21 selection. Now Hall will go to O’s camp in Sarasota, Fla., and throw some bullpen sessions before joining the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles. Hall said he has not thrown in a game for about two months, since the Georgia state high school playoffs.

rajsich sidebar.jpg“DL was rated by many of the scouting services as one of the top high school left-handed pitchers in the draft,” Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich said. “He was evaluated as a top first half of the draft talent, and we’re very excited to get him with our pick at 21. We didn’t think he would be there, but were excited that he was.

“He has a fast, loose and free power arm. He has a very good athletic delivery with a good fastball that has running life to it. He has a good power, downer curveball and a good circle change with late fade and sink, and also he throws a slider. He has a feel to pitch and throws strikes with all his pitches.”

There were three high school left-handed pitchers taken in the draft’s first round this year. The San Diego Padres took MacKenzie Gore No. 3 overall, and the Miami Marlins selected Trevor Rogers at No. 13. But Rajsich said Hall compares favorably to those two pitchers.

“I’d have to say, evaluating the three, my staff as a whole, we’d probably rank DL’s curveball better than the other two, and his fastball is on par with the other two. And his mental toughness and his makeup, his mound presence and his poise, right there with the other guys. He’s very comfortable and confident out there. He won’t back down. And even when his mechanics get away from him a bit, as they will with any high school pitcher, he can make adjustments. He knows what he’s doing.”

Hall turned down a college commitment to Florida State to sign with Baltimore.

“You know, Florida State, they’ve been my favorite team since I was a little kid. It was a tough decision, definitely, because I was looking forward to college. But I think Baltimore has a lot to offer and I’m excited about it,” he said.”

Draft day and night was a bit nerve-wracking, Hall said.

“We were all very anxious. But I felt like whatever team I was supposed to go was what would happen. Put it in God’s hands and that’s where he wanted me to be, so that’s where I fell to.”

The Orioles have now signed 31 of their 41 draft picks, and 15 of their first 16 over the first 15 rounds. The only unsigned pick in that group is the club’s fourth-round selection, right-handed high school pitcher Jack Conlon, from Sugarland, Texas. He was drafted No. 128 overall, and the Orioles are expected to sign him ahead of the July 7 deadline.