BOSTON — The Orioles typically spend their afternoons at Fenway Park trying to hit (or limit) baseballs over the Green Monster. On Tuesday, they climbed to the top and chucked them back down onto the field to help decide their fantasy football draft order for the season.
Fantasy football is serious business in the Orioles’ clubhouse. Their league has been running for several years now with the trio of right-hander Zach Eflin, pitching coach Drew French and interim bullpen coach/assistant pitching coach Mitch Plassmeyer representing the reigning champion squad after Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor led them to fantasy greatness.
The slate has been wiped clean, however, and players and coaches decided a throwing competition from the top of the Green Monster would be a fair way to determine which draft pick each team received. They placed a miniature goal post in left field and, after a few warmup throws each, took turns throwing at the posts. The closest throw, which belonged to pitching strategy coach and league commissioner Ryan Klimek, earned him the right to choose his slot.
There are a bunch of Orioles atop the Green Monster. And there is a miniature goal post down below. Smells like a fantasy football draft order-determining activity. pic.twitter.com/M22BnHcE5e
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) August 19, 2025
Klimek took the first overall pick and outfielder Colton Cowser, who was second closest, chose for more balance and went with No. 7 overall. First baseman Ryan Mountcastle was kicking himself because his warmup throws were excellent, but he threw wide when it counted and ended up with the eighth pick.
“I folded under the pressure,” Mountcastle joked.
Reliever Corbin Martin teamed up with left-hander Cade Povich and reliever Grant Wolfram and they took the No. 12 spot. Martin is in several leagues and has experience winning in the past, so he felt confident being able to build their team around two stud players. He shared some of his draft strategy but, in the interest of fairness, his draft plans won’t be divulged here.
After all, there is money on the line. Eflin was speaking with reporters after a spring training game this year when his former teammate Danny Coulombe, then with the Minnesota Twins, walked up and handed him a wad of cash to share between him, French and Plassmeyer.
With the NFL season just over two weeks away, the Orioles have their fantasy draft order. The Green Monster might be blamed if the season doesn’t go the way some of their players hope.
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