Merry Christmas, everyone! I should actually be saying, “Merry Draftmas, everyone!”
The MLB Draft is upon us once again, and day one has come to a close. The Orioles had three selections to make tonight, and they decided to go with three college bats.
Let’s review how rounds one and two went for the Baltimore Orioles.
22nd Pick: Vance Honeycutt – OF North Carolina
The Orioles selected outfielder Vance Honeycutt from the University of North Carolina with their first pick of the 2024 draft.
Honeycutt entered the draft as the No. 22 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, so it’s actually quite funny that he went No. 22 overall to the O’s.
Honeycutt just finished his junior year as a Tarheel, and in 62 games, he slashed .318/.410/.714 with a 1.124 OPS. He had 81 hits, 13 doubles, two triples and 28 home runs on the season.
Honeycutt also collected 70 RBIs and stole 28 bases for North Carolina this past season. The 21-year-old is a five-tool player, as he is a plus defender, finishing the season as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
While the Orioles have a plethora of outfield prospects, Honeycutt is someone who is very special in the outfield and has that clutch gene very few possess at his age.
Orioles Comparison: Adam Jones
32nd Pick: Griff O’Ferrall – SS University of Virginia
The Orioles received this 32nd overall pick because of Gunnar Henderson being named AL Rookie of the Year last season. They selected another shortstop in Griff O’Ferrall from the University of Virginia with this pick.
O’Ferrall is a defensive monster who’s shown flashes with his bat. The 21-year-old, in his junior year, batted .324 and carried an OPS of .821, hitting 20 doubles and driving in 52 this past season.
O’Ferrall isn’t known for power, hitting just eight home runs in three years for the Cavaliers, but he is a speedster, stealing 50 bases in 58 attempts.
The Richmond native is going to be a defensive wizard in the infield, whether he sticks at short or eventually moves to second or third. O’Ferrall was ranked 38th, according to MLB Pipeline.
Orioles Comparison: Brian Roberts
61st Pick: Ethan Anderson – C University of Virginia
It’s back-to-back picks taking players who were Cavaliers, as the Orioles selected Ethan Anderson with the 61st overall pick in the second round.
Anderson posted a .331 average and an OPS of .943 during his junior season, as he’s an extra-base hit machine, collecting 20 doubles and eight home runs in his 82 total hits.
Anderson, 20, is another Virginia-drafted player with an amazing eye, walking 103 times in his career and striking out just 102 times.
Anderson fits well as a switch-hitting backstop, as the organization lacks catching depth down on the farm. The Honolulu native was ranked 78th, according to MLB Pipeline.
Orioles Comparison: Matt Wieters
Make sure you stayed tuned for our coverage of days two and three of the 2024 MLB Draft as we break down and analyze each player selected by the O’s.
What are your thoughts on the selections made by the Orioles in rounds one and two? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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