The Orioles didn’t stray from their preference for college bats in the first round of the 2025 draft. Only their season can be described as unpredictable.
With the 19th overall pick tonight, the Orioles selected Auburn catcher Ike Irish.
Irish, a 21-year-old left-handed hitter and Michigan-native, homered six times in his last eight games. He slashed .364/.469/.710 with 13 doubles, two triples, 19 homers, 58 RBIs, 33 walks, 37 strikeouts and 11 steals in 12 attempts over 55 games this season.
In three college seasons, Irish hit .350/.435/.625 with 48 doubles, five triples, 39 homers and 167 RBIs in 160 games. He batted .325/.438/.433 in the Cape Code League last summer.
Irish, listed at 6 foot 2 and 210 pounds, also plays the outfield. He caught in only 12 games this year, compared to playing 41 in right and four in left.
The last catcher drafted by the Orioles in the first round was Oregon State’s Adley Rutschman at one/one in 2019. They took Ken Thomas in 1972, Drungo Hazewood in 1977, Jayson Werth in 1997, Brandon Snyder in 2005 and Matt Wieters in 2007.
They don’t all stay behind the plate.
Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias selected Rutschman with his first pick in 2019, outfielder Heston Kjerstad in 2020, outfielder Colton Cowser in 2021, shortstop Jackson Holliday in 2022, outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. in 2023 and outfielder Vance Honeycutt in 2024. The attraction to college bats early in the draft is pronounced, with Holliday the only high school player in the bunch.
The Orioles have seven picks tonight, including Nos. 30 and 31 as compensation for losing Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander, respectively, in free agency, and 37 from the Bryan Baker trade with the Rays.
They also choose at 58, 69 and 93. Day 2 goes from fourth to 20th, with the draft’s third day eliminated.
Since 2020, the Orioles have taken only 11 high schoolers.
The last pitcher selected in the first round is Grayson Rodriguez in 2018 under the previous regime. But there’s a solid chance that an arm is called somewhere within the club’s top four picks.
The highest drafted pitcher under Elias is Florida State right-hander Jackson Baumeister at 63rd overall in 2023. Oklahoma State’s Nolan McLean didn’t sign after he was chosen 81st in 2022.
Next for the Orioles after Monday is signing their picks. They have an unprecedented $19,144,500 in bonus pool funds.
The deadline for signing players is July 28.
Tonight’s draft began with the Nationals passing on Ethan Holliday, younger brother of Jackson Holliday, and taking Oklahoma prep shortstop Eli Willits. Ethan went fourth to the Rockies, who selected his father, Matt, in the seventh round in 1998.
The Hollidays could have been the first brothers taken first overall.
Prep third baseman Gavin Fien was considered a possibility for the Orioles, but the Rangers selected him 12th overall. MLB Pipeline was one of the outlets predicting that Fien would go to the Orioles.
This story will be updated multiple times.