How did guys like Vance Honeycutt and Griff O’Ferrall fare in their first taste of pro ball?
The Orioles followed their standard blueprint in the 2024 draft. Baltimore selected college position players with its first four picks, and the Birds targeted players with top-tier traits that needed at least one tweak to develop into major leaguers.
The club did manage to sneak three pitchers into their top 10 selections, but the early attention fell on the hitters. Thanks to their success at the major league level, the Orioles did not make a selection until the 22nd pick.
Baltimore was linked to North Carolina outfielder Vance Honeycutt in the days leading up to the draft. Honeycutt remained available throughout the first 21 picks, and Mike Elias used his first-round selection on the speedy outfielder.
Honeycutt flashed a tremendous blend of power and speed in the ACC, and the Orioles shelled out an over-slot bonus of $4 million to sign the 21-year-old. Of course, players don’t fall out of the top 20 without at least one question mark.
Early praise of Honeycutt often came with the “if he hits” caveat. His “hit” tool ranked below his above-average marks in the other four major categories. He struck out too often in college and displayed a pull-heavy approach over his three years at Carolina. So how did he fare in his first tase of pro ball?
Honeycutt slashed .226/.333/.258 over eight games for Delmarva. He struck out 13 times in 36 plate appearances and did not hit a home run. He walked four times, recorded one extra-base hit, and drove in three runs while scoring twice. He managed to steal four bases.
The Orioles bumped Honeycutt up to Aberdeen for five games before the end of the year. He finished 2-for-20 with a pair of singles, 11 strikeouts and 0 walks in those five contests. The numbers didn’t exactly jump off the page in a very small sample size.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise given his scouting report, and it’s not yet cause for concern. Baltimore selected Honeycutt with the understanding it would need to develop his approach at the plate, and that journey will truly begin next season. The O’s’ top pick got his feet wet at two levels, and he’ll look to put his first-round talent to use with the IronBirds next season.
Honeycutt shared some early perspective with MASN’s Steve Melewski last month that you can check out here.
Honeycutt currently ranks above Enrique Bradfield Jr. as Baltimore’s third best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Baltimore’s second pick in 2024, Griff O’Ferrall, slots in at number seven.
The Orioles stayed in the ACC to select O’Ferrall out of Virginia. Unlike Honeycutt’s boom or bust profile, the shortstop ranked as a solid player in all five categories. He slashed .232/.348/.268 over 15 games at Delmarva. He struck out 10 times, worked nine walks, and tallied 13 hits in 56 at bats.
O’Ferrall snuck up to Aberdeen for five games at the end of the season. He finished an impressive 6-for-20 with a walk and only three K’s.
The Birds selected O’Ferrall’s college teammate Ethan Anderson with its very next selection. The catcher took to pro ball right away with a .268/.333/.446 over 14 games in Delmarva. He drove in 11 runs, posted a 9/6 K/BB ratio, and managed to display some power. Anderson tallied three doubles, two triples, and a homer during his time with the Shorebirds.
He joined Aberdeen at the end of the year and finished 6-for-17 (.353) with 3 walks, a double and three stolen bases in five games.
The Birds nabbed another speedster with third-round selection Austin Overn. Overn, now Baltimore’s 17th best prospect, swiped 12 bags in only 15 games with Delmarva and stole four more with Aberdeen at the end of the year.
Overn, a former USC football player, slashed .291/.406/.455 with four doubles, a triple, and one homer in 69 plate appearances with the Shorebirds. He walked 12 times compared to 15 strikeouts at Low-A. Overn went 5-for-20 with a double, two triples and three walks over five games at Aberdeen.
Chase Allsup, the first pitcher taken by the Birds, will make his pro debut next season. Sixth-round pick DJ Layton, the first high-schooler on the Orioles’ draft board, will also debut next year. The Orioles valued Layton enough to pay almost $100,000 over slot to keep him away from a college commitment at Southern Miss.
Seventh-round pick LHP Carson Dorsey allowed four runs in his only appearance with the IronBirds. Eighth-rounder Colin Tuft slashed .177/.354/.274 over 20 games at Delmarva.
The Orioles have fully entered “win-now” mode, and it’s unlikely any of these players will see Baltimore in 2025. That being said, it’s crucial that the O’s continue to improve their farm system despite selecting lower in the draft. The Orioles recent entry into the international market will certainly help the cause, but the Birds need guys like Honeycutt, O’Ferrall, Lane and Allsup to hit to sustain progress at the major league level.
Previous 2024 prospect reviews: Heston Kjerstad, Frederick Bencosme, Justin Armbruester, Leandro Arias, Brandon Young, Creed Willems, Trace Bright, Braylin Tavera, Michael Forret, Thomas Sosa
Tomorrow: Aron Estrada