masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIt is not often a team drafts two players from the same school, but this year not only did the Orioles do that, but they drafted two players from the same Baltimore-area high school.

Yesterday, they took K.J Hockaday from Harford County’s John Carroll school in the 14th round and today the O’s drafted his teammate, Brendan Butler, in the 50th round with the 1,505th overall pick.

Butler was a corner infielder in high school but was listed as an outfielder when selected today. Butler goes…It is not often a team drafts two players from the same school, but this year not only did the Orioles do that, but they drafted two players from the same Baltimore-area high school.

Yesterday, they took K.J Hockaday from Harford County’s John Carroll school in the 14th round and today the O’s drafted his teammate, Brendan Butler, in the 50th round with the 1,505th overall pick.

Butler was a corner infielder in high school but was listed as an outfielder when selected today. Butler goes 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds and throws and bats right-handed.

“He’s got tremendous speed, like 6.4 or 6.5 speed and he’s got the same kind of build as K.J.,” John Carroll coach Joe Stetka said of Butler. “These kids work out constantly, all the time getting bigger and stronger.”

He hit .481 this year with 13 doubles, 42 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .596.

“He’s just a solid kid, I couldn’t be happier for both of these kids. He hits the ball with power and to all fields. He’s used a wooden bat in BP and can hit the ball so hard, it jumps off his bat. He’s very smart on the bases and for a high school player, he is pretty complete.”

Butler does have a college commitment to Towson University but it’s too soon to know if he honors that or signs with the Orioles.

Also, today the Orioles drafted University of Maryland pitcher Sander Beck in the 33rd round.

By my count, the Orioles selected 27 pitchers among 50 rounds worth of picks and 18 of those were college pitchers. They selected 23 position players with 14 from college.