The Orioles seem to be trying out a different strategy with their largest-ever draft bonus pool.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Baltimore Orioles fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The two days of the 2025 MLB Draft have come and gone. The Orioles, after trading Bryan Baker to the Rays for pick #37 in the Draft, ended up with four of the first 37 picks as well as the largest-ever signing bonus pool that any team has had since this system was introduced in 2012.
Along with all of that available money, the Orioles seem to have broadened the type of player that they were willing to take with their high draft picks. Rather than focusing solely on college bats who have good power but questions about their ability to hit, such as last year’s first round pick Vance Honeycutt, the Orioles used their top pick on Auburn catcher/outfielder Ike Irish, whose expected skillset is higher on contact and lighter on power. Their choice with the 30th pick, Coastal Carolina catcher Caden Bodine, was similar.
From there, the Orioles went in a more familiar direction in taking Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy, who has the power they like but also questions about his swing-and-miss. Aloy was a higher-rated talent that the O’s were able to get with the 31st pick, so it still fit a best player available philosophy. There’s less pressure on him working out when he was “just” the third pick rather than the top pick. BPA led them to take a high school outfielder named Slater de Brun with the #37 pick, who will probably take an overslot bonus to keep him from going to college. They’ve got the money.
As the beginning of Day 1 of the Draft played out, there were some fans who were unhappy that the Orioles didn’t use one of these first four picks on a pitcher. Drafting for need is generally a terrible strategy. There is certainly a need. Starting in the second round, the Orioles took mostly pitchers for the entire rest of the Draft, with early picks from big programs like Georgia and later ones from increasingly-obscure universities and community colleges. Check out the full list of picks here.
There’s no instant gratification in baseball’s amateur draft. The reality of prospect development is that college players are probably two years out from helping, and high school players are four or five years from contributing at the major league level. If they intrigue another team enough, they could be used as trade pieces. But either way there’s no way to really know, right now, which pick is going to be a winner and which won’t.
With the understanding that even the most-informed people can ultimately only guess off of the initial vibes, how are you feeling about this draft class? This week’s survey is giving a grade to Mike Elias and the Orioles based on the early thoughts on these picks:
Results will be shared on Friday. Vote now and check back then. You can always let us know what you think in the meantime in the comments below.