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Grading The Orioles First 7 Draft Picks Of The 2025 MLB Draft

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One of the core issues the Baltimore Orioles are facing is the lack of depth in their farm system. In 2023, the team ranked first in the league for its high-ceiling prospects Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson. Two years later, the team dipped multiple spots to 22nd with their only notable prospect being catcher Samuel Basallo, according to USA Today.

The 2025 MLB Draft offered the team several talented players and much-needed depth to their depleted system. The team could have made several selections at pick number 19 on Sunday to jumpstart their organization. The team, however, decided to go a different route this year by stocking up on bats, especially at the catcher position. Did they make the right choice?

Pick #19: Ike Irish (C/OF – Auburn)

2025 Stats: 214 ABs; .364/.469/1.179; 13 doubles; 1 triple; 19 HRs; 58 RBIs; 33 BB to 37 K; 11 SB

The Orioles taking a catcher this high in the MLB draft is a shock, to put it mildly. It seemed that Adley Rutschman had the position on lockdown, but that might not be the case should the team leave Irish at the position. Then again, the 21-year-old did some reps in the outfield, so maybe someone over there is going.

Irish’s name appeared multiple times on the Southeastern Conference leaderboards. He finished third in individual batting average, fourth in slugging percentage, and sixth in OPS. He also had the eighth-most home runs in the conference. Fielding-wise, he’s put up great defensive numbers at both positions, moving to the outfield after an injury in March.

 

He’s a well-rounded player who could get a fast start in the Minors, depending on how he does early in his major-league career. The only question is where he’ll be placed. He has the speed for the outfield, but he has the hitting profile of a catcher. The Orioles outfield prospect list is a bit crowded, but he immediately placed in the top two, if not atop the list.

Grade: B+

Pick #30: Caden Bodine (C – Coastal Carolina University)

2025 Stats: 245 ABs; .318/.454/.915; 18 doubles; 1 triple; 5 HRs; 42 RBIs; 47 BB to 24 K; 2 SB

When the Orioles took another catcher right after Irish in the draft, it’s time to worry about Rutschman’s future with the team. Regardless, Bodine’s profile shows a hitter developing a good eye and containing a high upside of gap power.

One thing to note is that, while Bodine’s contact has slightly declined since 202, he’s made up for it with more walks. The catcher doubled the number of walks compared to strikeouts, a rare feat in today’s MLB, along with a career strikeout rate under 10%. That’s not including 65 doubles while hitting 25 home runs.

 

The question for him is his athleticism. He can’t steal bases well, only swiping two bags in nine attempts in 2025. Bodine reportedly holds exceptional framing skills and a 39% caught-stealing rate as a junior, but struggles on passed balls. He’ll have some time to work on it in the minors.

Grade: B

Pick #31: Wehiwa Aloy (SS – Arkansas)

2025 Stats: 266 ABs; .35-/.434/1.107; 19 doubles; 2 triples; 21 HRs; 68 RBIs; 32 BB to 64 K; 9 SB

Most of the Orioles’ previous and current top-tier infield prospects, minus Griff O’Ferrall, have been called up. Outside of that, their next-best prospect for the infield is Aron Estrada, a 20-year-old international free agent who is not popping off at the high-A level. Aloy, given his stat line and abilities, immediately becomes the team’s best infield prospect.

After a down year in 2024, Aloy rebounded in his second year with Arkansas. The 21-year-old Hawai’i native also possesses Francisco Lindor-levels of power, hitting 21 home runs in 2025. Aloy balances great gap power, utilizing all aspects of the field while balancing raw power, an uncommon blend for most major-league shortstops.

 

One of the bigger questions was his fielding going into 2025, a question mark he addressed nicely with only five errors in 65 games. He still strikes out a bit too much and doesn’t walk enough, but he can bump Henderson to third base if he pans out quickly in the farm system. He might be the best offensive player the team got in their draft.

Grade: A-

Pick #37: Slater de Brun (OF – Summit (Oregon))

de Brun is the fourth-straight offensive pick for the team and the second outfielder taken by the team for an already-crowded prospect field. He’s small for an outfielder, standing at five-feet-ten, but has drawn comparisons to Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll. The 18-year-old grades out high in running and fielding, but seems to need more development in the power department.

 

The outfielder can get down to hit a ball with an even swing and a small stride. His progression since 2023 has displayed an increase in his bat speed, exit velocity, and impact momentum. de Brun is taking major strides in his swing, which bodes well for his career development given the emphasis on higher exit velocities and power. He can hit the ball well.

An asset in the outfield as well, he can easily take the reins from whoever the Orioles’ centerfielder is at the time. He might have to compete with Enrique Bradfield Jr. for the spot, however.

Grade: B+

Pick #58: Joseph Dzierwa (LHP – Michigan State)

2025 Stats: 18 games started; 11-3; 1.42 ERA; 118.2 IP (4 complete game shutouts); 77 hits and 22 BB (.982 WHIP); 137 K; 4 HR

The team’s first pitcher of the draft is a six-feet-seven unit that not only can strike out players, but also has an incredible amount of stamina. Dzierwa has a four-pitch arsenal, featuring a highly graded changeup and fastball combination, along with a developing curveball and slider.

 

Dzierwa’s numbers have only increased since he started pitching for the Spartans in 2023. In the last three years, he’s earned more starts, longer stamina, higher strikeouts, fewer walks, and home runs. His control is great for a 21-year-old; he needs to work on those two other breaking pitches. Regardless, he might be the Orioles’ steal of the draft if he can get his arsenal up to speed.

Grade: A-

Pick #69: JT Quinn (RHP – Georgia)

2025 Stats: 17 appearances (7 games started): 2.75 ERA; 36 IP; 23 hits and 17 walks (1.11 WHIP); 49 K; 6 HR

The second pitcher taken by the team, Quinn, is a starter-turned-bullpen asset that adds strength to their weakened pitching depth. The thing is that, being ranked 127th on MLB Pipeline‘s draft board, selecting him at 69th is a major stretch. There’s reason to be concerned, given he has three pitches and his curveball isn’t the best, including notable location issues.

 

Quinn’s ceiling is limited by his elevated home run and walk rate. He has decent control, but some problems with location and fooling hitters. He saw some improvement in the Cape Cod Summer League as a starter, dropping to two walks over 14 innings, along with no home runs. Still, he needs a third effective pitch to have a chance in the majors.

Grade: C

Pick #93: RJ Austin (OF – Vanderbilt)

2025 Stats: 230 ABs; .257/.353/.736; 15 doubles; 4 triples; 2 HRs; 42 RBIs 21 BB to 47 K; 22 SB

The last pick of this group is another plus-speed outfielder for the team. This last pick could have been used to shore up their infield or pitching staff. Austin does have his perks and positives, but there are some questions about his contact and overall ability to get on base.

Left field might be a good fit for the outfielder, given that he played nine flawless games at the position in the Cape Cod Summer League in 2024. He can be a big runner-in-scoring-position hitter, given that he has 42 RBIs and 15 doubles with only two home runs. He’s not a power hitter, but he could serve as an important leadoff hitter if he gets his on-base value up.

Grade: C

Main Photo Credits: Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The post Grading The Orioles First 7 Draft Picks Of The 2025 MLB Draft appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.