It’s safe to say that Orioles GM Mike Elias loves selecting collegiate players when it comes to early picks in the draft.
This includes the picks that were gifts to the organization due to O’s players becoming award winners. This is how the Birds were able to draft Griff O’Ferrall. Let’s dive into the Orioles’ No. 7 overall prospect on this edition of Prospect Profiles.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
O’Ferrall was named the Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year, a prestigious award that is given to the best high school baseball player in the state. He earned the award for the 2020-2021 season.
O’Ferrall attended the University of Virginia and wasted no time to show his skills, as he collected his first hit in his first collegiate game and immediately followed it up with a two-stolen-base performance.
As a freshman, O’Ferrall played in 58 games and slashed .308/.406/.366 with a .772 OPS. He collected 70 total hits, five doubles, a triple and two home runs with 39 RBIs. He also stole 17 bases in 19 attempts.
His sophomore season was statistically his best college baseball year. His average went up .88 points to .396, he had 38 more hits for 108 with 20 doubles and carried a .948 OPS. He was also the first player from UVA to be up for the Brooks Wallace Award, which is given to the best shortstop in all of college baseball.
The next season, O’Ferrall took some steps back. He had just 92 total hits, upped his home runs to five (he only had eight home runs in three years of college) and stole another 17 bases. He was ranked well, though, as MLB Pipeline placed him 38th on their draft prospect list.
O’Ferrall would go with the 32nd overall pick in the 2024 draft, which the Orioles received for another shortstop, as Gunnar Henderson won American League Rookie of the Year.
The Richmond native made his professional debut on August 13 as a Delmarva Shorebird and collected his first pro hit and RBI in that game. He played 15 games with Low-A Delmarva, posting a .616 OPS and 19 hits before being called up to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds on September 3. He played just five games and had a .300 average with six singles.
The 21-year-old knows who he is as a hitter, with impressive bat-to-ball skills and an ability to work at-bats. He draws walks and gets on base, and while there isn’t a ton of impact or power, he has a good feel for the barrel.
Defensively, O’Ferrall has average arm strength, but it plays better because he uses his feet well and always puts himself in a position to get rid of the ball quickly and accurately. He has solid footwork and enough range with a chance to stick at shortstop long-term.
What are your thoughts on O’s No. 7 overall prospect, Griff O’Ferrall? 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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