The 2024 MLB Draft was filled with young superstars in the making, and the Baltimore Orioles may have found one in the middle rounds.
Outfielder Austin Overn is a defensive-first prospect who can fly on the base paths with his illustrious speed. Let’s dive into the O’s No. 17 overall prospect on this edition of Prospect Profiles.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 75 | Arm: 50 | Field: 70 | Overall: 40
Overn attended USC during his collegiate career and was recruited as a two-sport athlete in both baseball and football. Overn’s freshman year of baseball was the 2023 season, and he wasted no time showing his skills in his debut against BYU, as he was able to leg out a triple for his first collegiate hit.
Overn would start all 58 games of his freshman season and would slash .314/.402/.530 with a .932 OPS. He tallied 74 total hits, 11 doubles, 14 triples and four home runs with 38 RBIs, 29 walks and 16 stolen bases. Defensively, he racked up four assists using his cannon of an arm in the outfield.
His sophomore season would be different offensively, as his bat cooled down a little. His average went down to .270, posting 65 total hits, 12 doubles and five triples. He did up his power, hitting eight home runs, and he still showed off his speed, stealing 17 bases.
Nonetheless, Overn was heading into the draft as the 131st draft prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. The Orioles would select him in the third round.
Overn would be added to the Low-A Delmarva Shorbirds roster and make his pro debut on August 13. Although he would get off to a slow start, collecting just three hits in his first 23 at-bats, Overn still posted a .861 OPS in 15 games with the Shorebirds, collecting 16 hits, six extra-base hits and 12 base on balls.
Overn would be called up to High-A Aberdeen on September 3 and would play just six games with the IronBirds. There, the 21-year-old would have five hits, two of them being triples, and would steal four bases in four attempts.
The Orange, CA, native focuses on drawing walks and putting the ball in play, with his speed helping his hit tool. He’s the type of table-setter that’s hard to come by in today’s game.
He’s a legitimate base stealer, and that speed plays in center field, where he combines his wheels with good reads and routes to be a premium defender.
What are your thoughts on the O’s No. 17 overall prospect, Austin Overn? 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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