{"id":104137,"date":"2025-07-16T12:26:51","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T16:26:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=104137"},"modified":"2025-07-16T12:26:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T16:26:51","slug":"grading-orioles-first-7-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/07\/16\/grading-orioles-first-7-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Grading The Orioles First 7 Draft Picks Of The 2025 MLB Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the core issues the Baltimore Orioles are facing is the lack of depth in their farm system. In 2023<\/a>, 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> 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?<\/p>\n

Pick #19: Ike Irish (C\/OF – Auburn)<\/h2>\n

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

The Orioles taking a catcher<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Irish’s name appeared multiple times on the Southeastern Conference leaderboards<\/a>. 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<\/a> at both positions, moving to the outfield after an injury<\/a> in March.<\/p>\n

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103 mph | 408 ft for Ike Irish, who clobbers a homer during the Super Regionals \ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n

See where the left-handed-hitting C\/OF who entered play with a 1.164 OPS lands in our latest mock draft: https:\/\/t.co\/cunwLuAto0<\/a><\/p>\n

(\ud83d\udcfd\ufe0f: @AuburnBaseball<\/a>)pic.twitter.com\/6sdk2nkBCk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 7, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n