We are one day away from the 2025 MLB Draft, and it’s time to discuss the possibilities of who the Baltimore Orioles might select with their four first-round picks.
The Orioles hold the 19th overall pick from where they stood after the 2024 season and possess three picks in the competitive balance round; both the 30th and 31st picks due to Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander signing to other teams and the 37th overall pick after trading right-hander Bryan Baker to the Tampa Bay Rays.
In addition to the 37th overall pick, the Orioles received the slot value for that pick at $2,631,400. This now puts Baltimore’s bonus pool at $18,874,500, the most by any organization in this year’s draft.
With that being known, let’s dive into seven players the Orioles could be primed to select with any of their four picks in the first round this year.
Wehiwa Aloy: INF – University of Arkansas
Wehiwa Aloy is our top selection when it comes to the 19th overall pick. He is the most balanced prospect in the draft who isn’t named Ethan Holliday.
The reigning 2025 SEC Player of the Year is a five-tool player. He hit .350 and a Razorback-high 21 home runs this past season.
He has shown flashes on the defensive side, as he posted a 97.8 fielding percentage and made just six errors at shortstop.
Aloy does not have exceptional speed on the bases, stealing just nine of them, but that doesn’t stop him from being a prime selection in this draft. Aloy is ranked 17th, according to MLB Pipeline’s top 100 draft prospects.
Jace LaViolette: OF – Texas A&M
Before the 2025 NCAA season started, Jace LaViolette was supposed to be a solidified top-five pick. Now, he is in discussion to be a mid-to-late first-round pick.
As a sophomore, LaViolette smashed 29 home runs and carried a .305 average. As a junior, he hit 18 home runs and posted a .258 average. He did carry a 1.003 OPS, yet this past season was considered a down year for him.
LaViolette at the 19th overall pick would be the steal of the draft, even with him being ranked 20th by MLB Pipeline.
Devin Taylor: OF – Indiana University
Since 1902, Indiana University has produced 42 players who have made the major leagues and produced four All-Stars. Devin Taylor has the potential to be the fifth.
Taylor is an offensive specialist like no other. Being able to take the number of strikeouts you have in your collegiate career and doubling that to get to the total amount of hits you have is quite impressive.
Taylor finished his collegiate career with 229 hits and 114 strikeouts. He also finished with 179 RBIs, meaning he had more hits and RBIs in college than the total amount of strikeouts.
Taylor should still be available during the competitive balance round. Hence, there should be no issue in selecting him with either of the three picks the O’s have.
Josh Hammond: INF – Wesleyan Christian High School (NC)
The biggest risk during this time is taking a high school prospect in the first round. We have seen players like Jackson Holliday skyrocket as the first overall pick and dominate the minor leagues, and we have also seen players struggle like Druw Jones.
However, Josh Hammond is a high school prospect who deserves to have a chance in the first round.
The Wake Forest commit is a walking Manny Machado. He has such a great arm that he was considered to be a two-player as Perfect Game clocked him throwing 97 mph back in February.
Not only does he play amazing defense, but Hammond also hits the absolute cover off the ball. He is one underrated and talented third baseman, and if O’s GM Mike Elias wants to go that route, Hammond surely should be at the top of the list.
Luke Stevenson: C – University of North Carolina
Luke Stevenson is my personal favorite prospect in the draft and is hands down the best catcher in this year’s draft class.
Stevenson is a talented defensive-first backstop who’s shown flashes of his offensive abilities. He collected 33 collegiate home runs and carried a .267 average for two years as a Tar Heel.
Drafting a catcher in the first round would certainly turn heads, but if he is there at 30 or 31, you can’t pass on his talent.
Riley Quick: RHP – University of Alabama
Coming back from elbow surgery and being out for a whole sophomore season could really cause damage to your draft stock. However, that wasn’t the case for Riley Quick.
Quick is the only pitcher within the seven prospects that we took a deep dive on. The big thing with the right-hander is that taking him would be considered a stretch, as he is ranked 38th, according to MLB Pipeline.
In 14 starts this past season, Quick carried a 3.92 ERA and earned an 8-3 record. The surgery didn’t affect the 21-year-old too much, as he still pounded the zone by striking out 70 batters and still had the stamina to average almost five innings a start.
Using one of the competitive balance picks on Quick would be a sneaky decision, one that Elias typically doesn’t make in the early rounds of drafts.
Alex Lodise: INF – Florida State
In the last three MLB Drafts, the Orioles have selected an ACC player in the first two rounds.
Alex Lodise would be the third player since 2000 to be drafted by the O’s and be the reigning ACC Player of the Year, joining outfielder DJ Stewart and infielder Max Wagner.
Lodise had a major upgrade in stats between his freshman and sophomore years. As a freshman, he posted a .258 batting average and carried an .853 OPS. As a sophomore, he hit .394 with an OPS of 1.167.
Lodise also nearly doubled his home run total and knocked in 68 RBIs. He is currently ranked 43rd, according to MLB, which seems to be a little low for a guy with so much offensive potential.
Three prospects did not make the original list and are honorable mentions:
- Ethan Conrad: OF – Wake Forest
- Andrew Fischer: 1B/3B – University of Tennessee
- Gage Wood: RHP – University of Arkansas
What do you think of our selections? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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