Quick to deliver
Second-round pick Haskin ‘looking forward to getting started’ with his pro career
On the first day of Hudson Haskin’s freshman year at Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut, baseball coach Rob Dowling told the story of five of his former players and the paths they took. Haskin focused on one name in particular.
That player reached high school standing 5-feet-1 and weighing 110 pounds. He grew to become an All-American at the University of Connecticut, a first-round draft pick and, eventually, a three-time All-Star and World Series champion.
Haskin, the Orioles’ second-round pick in the 2020 MLB draft, has never met Houston Astros outfielder George Springer but finds himself inspired by his fellow Avon alumnus regardless.
“He’s kind of been somebody that I’ve looked toward as a benchmark and tried to push myself to accomplish half of what he has,” Haskin said during a video conference call Friday, a day after Baltimore took the Tulane outfielder with the 39th overall pick.
“I can remember sitting there, I was 5-7, 135, and I was like, ‘All right, I’ve got 6 inches and 25 pounds on him.’ That’s just been my mindset. If somebody’s been successful in my shoes, there’s no reason why I can’t.”
Those shoes have grown to fit a 6-2, 198-pound center fielder who plays with plus speed and uses a unique swing to routinely hit the ball hard. Shortly after the season ended prematurely because of the coronavirus pandemic, he talked with Baltimore area scout David Jennings, then had a Zoom call with Orioles representatives in the lead-up to the draft. He was unsure of the interest level of various teams or where he would fall in the draft. MLB Pipeline had him as the 74th best prospect available, while Baseball America ranked him 211th.
Instead, the Orioles plucked him with the second pick of the second round, a selection with a slot value of about $1.91 million. With the possibility of having three more years of college eligibility, Haskin said that he will likely sign with the organization and begin his professional career.
“If everything works out, I’m looking forward to getting started,” he said.
At Avon, Haskin broke Springer’s record for career stolen bases, swiping 36 bags in 21 games while batting .515. After the Oakland Athletics drafted him in 2018’s 39th round, he headed to Tulane, where he hit .372/.459/.647 as a freshman with what he called an “unorthodox” swing.
“It’s been something that’s kind of evolved over time,” Haskin said. “I think as I get older, I now have an understand