Each year, in preparation for the MLB Draft, MLB Pipeline ranks their 250 best draft-eligible prospects. From the college ranks to the high school prep class, this list is filled with names that could change the outlook of an organization’s future.
In 2024, that list included the O’s first-round pick Vance Honeycutt, ranked No. 22 among the 250. Griff O’Ferrall came in at No. 38, and his college roommate Ethan Anderson was 40 spots below. The speedy Austin Overn, in Double-A Chesapeake with O’Ferrall and Anderson, checked in at No. 131, and Baltimore’s fifth-round-pick, Ryan Stafford, was ranked 175th.
More often than not, there’s little conversation to be had about the prospects ranked outside of this list.
Baseball America takes things a step further, though, ranking 500 prospects before draft season. Coming in at No. 272 was an “under-the-radar prep prospect” hailing from Illinois with a commitment to Northwest Florida: Nate George.
The center fielder and his raw skillset fell to the 16th round of the 2024 Draft, and that’s where the Orioles selected him, swaying him away from his college commitment.
“I’m a strong believer that everything happens for a reason,” George said. “For a couple weeks after, I was like ‘why was I a 16th-round pick?’ It all works out how it’s supposed to in the end.
Looking at the Orioles and their track record of developing their young high school guys into very successful big leaguers, I knew that this is an organization that I can get crazy development from and ultimately pursue that goal of being a Major League Baseball player.”
Round 16 may not have been where George wanted to be selected, but it was still familiar territory.
“I was never the highest ranked guy in high school in Illinois, always an under-the-radar guy,” George said. “Not saying that all that stuff matters, but in a sense, I felt like with my hard work I kind of deserved that in a sense, and I wasn’t always rewarded with it.
But that’s what I like. I like being an under-the-radar guy, not the most known guy. That’s kind of how I’ve always been. I think the Lord has put that in my path for the right reason.”
I joked with George, who just wrapped up his first professional season, that if he keeps playing like this, he’s not going to be an unknown for long.
In fact, that time may have already come.
After soaring through three levels of the minors with a .337 batting average and .896 OPS, the 19-year-old has already become the highest-ranked prospect of the O’s 2024 class, according to MLB Pipeline.
George began the year in the FCL and made quick work of that competition, hitting .383 with an OPS over 1.000 with just one fewer stolen base than strikeouts.
“I told my Dad when I found out that I was starting in the FCL, I told him ‘I’m gonna give them no choice but to move me up,’” George said. “Kind of just have a chip on my shoulder in every sense but also understand that this is a process and it’s not going to come overnight, just taking it day by day.”
That chip on his shoulder, paired with some unbelievable athleticism, led to another great stretch in Delmarva, where George hit .337 in 43 games with the Shorebirds. Baltimore had no choice but to see the center fielder finish his first pro season in Aberdeen, where he hit just shy of .300 with a .380 on-base percentage.
It’s been a lot for the young prospect to handle at once, but he’s learning on the fly, adapting to a professional game filled with scouting reports and more information than time in the day.
“It’s a lot different than high school,” George joked. “In high school it’s like ‘alright, he’s got fastball, slider, go hit it.’ It’s a lot, especially for my first year reading all this. But it’s definitely helpful and I’ve already seen a big jump in my approach and how to go attack different pitchers based on their charts and everything.”
Scouting reports and projections surrounding George echo a similar perspective that the center fielder is incredibly athletic but has a long way to go. He would tell you the same.
“I think I still have so much more room to grow as a baseball player,” George said. “I think I’m a great athlete in a sense, not to pat myself on the back, but I’ve worked really hard for this.”
There, I had to chime in and remind the 19-year-old that he earned every back pat coming his way after a spectacular season. He laughed, too humble to add on and agree, but continued with a smile.
“Obviously, knowing the Orioles organization and their great development process, I’m excited to see what these next years have to come with my development.”
And here’s the kicker: Despite posting a season with a .337 batting average with 50 stolen bases, George is just scratching the surface, and finds himself in one of the best player development organizations in the game.
“I’ve never had a hitting coach or a strength coach, it’s always been me and my Dad getting after it every offseason,” George said. “It’s going to be an adjustment this offseason having those guys (O’s coaches) around, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Don’t worry, though. Dad is still the best coach.
“He’s thrown me batting practice ever since I was six years old. He’s the man when it comes to that. He was the one got me into lifting weights and everything too, so I give him a lot of the credit for my development early on.
I almost call him after every game, just checking in, seeing what he sees, seeing what I see, bouncing ideas off of each other’s heads.”
George will have to remind his Dad now and then not to send him updated prospect rankings or social media buzz, as the outfielder just wants to keep his head down and work.
But while George will no doubt be working tirelessly on the diamond this offseason, there's just one thing he'll have to add to the agenda: Get used to being on the radar.