Another MLB team drafts this former Idaho baseball star. Now he faces a choice
This wasn’t the spring Robert Orloski wanted. But the summer turned out pretty well when the Los Angeles Angels selected the Middleton High graduate Sunday in the 16th round of the MLB Draft.
Orloski threw only 23 pitches in Texas-San Antonio’s season opener before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. But he flexed enough upside in his first two college seasons to convince the Angels to take a flyer on the 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-handed pitcher.
Orloski led UTSA to an NCAA Super Regional as a sophomore in 2025, going 8-0 with nine saves and a 3.36 ERA out of the bullpen. He ranked in the top 100 in the country in wins, saves, appearances (27), WHIP (1.13) and hits per nine innings (6.8).
He transitioned back into the starting rotation and was set for a starring role for the Roadrunners this spring. Then a February injury derailed his first draft-eligible season since entering college.
The Angels have until July 27 to convince the 469th overall pick to sign a contract and skip his senior year of college. Draft picks after the 11th round come with no assigned slot values or signing bonuses.
The Red Sox originally drafted Orloski in 2023 out of high school in the 20th and final round. He opted not to sign and chose to attend UTSA.
Orloski was one of the most dominant Idaho high school baseball players in recent years. The state’s coaches twice voted him an All-Idaho player of the year, and Gatorade named him the state’s all-class player of the year as a senior in 2023.
He went 7-1 with a 1.38 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 56 innings in his final season at Middleton. He led the state’s largest classification in strikeouts and innings, adding a seven-inning perfect game.
He also led the 5A division that year in hits (48), batting average (.480), slugging percentage (.740), runs scored (46) and stolen bases (43).
This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 1:34 PM.
