Orioles Draft Prospects In College

Baseball is back in full swing and with the MLB underway and college baseball entering the second half of the year, draft season is rapidly approaching. While the Orioles have acquired some of their major league talent via free agency and trades, Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez, and the majority of the team’s young core came to Baltimore through the draft. Thanks to an improved record last season, Mike Elias and his crew will be picking lower than they have in recent years but at pick No. 17, they should still be able to add a key addition to the farm system. Let’s take a look at some of the top college players to watch as potential picks for the Orioles first selection in this year’s draft.  

The Infielders: 

Matt Shaw, SS, Maryland 

Shaw has been the epitome of consistency since his arrival at the University of Maryland in 2021. He has hit for contact, batting above .290 in all three of his seasons, shown power, crushing 40 long balls in 135 games, and flashed speed, swiping 30 bases over the course of his career. He’s also a versatile fielder who has the glove to stick at shortstop at the next level. What’s most intriguing about Shaw, however, is his performance in the Cape Cod league last summer, where he batted .360 while taking home MVP honors. Cape Cod has been known to produce top prospects, and given Shaw’s dominance in the league, he could be a quick riser through whatever minor league system he lands in. As one of the driving factors behind the Terrapins baseball resurgence, Shaw would become an instant fan-favorite in Baltimore if Elias decides to keep him in Maryland for the foreseeable future.  

Tommy Troy, 2B, Stanford 

While second basemen tend to be drafted lower due to their lack of defensive value, Troy’s bat could be difficult for the Orioles to resist. The junior is slashing .417/.504/.677 with just 14 strikeouts through the first 23 games of the 2023 season. What’s even more appealing about Troy is the fact that he has shown consistent improvement over his three years at Stanford. As a freshman, he batted just .247 with sixteen extra base hits in 49 games. The following season, his batting average jumped up to .339 but his plate discipline left something to be desired as evidenced by his measly nine walks in 55 games. This spring, however, he has put it all together, hitting for contact and power while walking more than he has struck out. Given the impact Connor Norby has had on the Orioles farm system after posting similar stat lines in college, it would not come as a surprise if Baltimore takes Troy hoping for similar results.  

Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami 

If the Orioles decide they are more interested in power than contact, Morales would be an obvious choice. The 6’4″ third baseman has the glove and arm talent to be an above average fielder while slugging 30+ home runs on a regular basis. He led the Hurricanes in both home runs (18) and RBIs (59) in 2022, and while he has hit just six long balls so far this spring, he has shown an improved approach at the plate and is batting .336 against some of the toughest competition in the country. The one concern about Morales remains his inability to limit strikeouts, but similar concerns were voiced about Gunnar Henderson and I think it’s safe to say he has turned out alright. Taking Morales would be a case of trusting the tools rather than the production and given the potential of those tools, that’s a risk I doubt Elias would be afraid to take.  

The Outfielders: 

Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF, Vanderbilt 

While Bradfield Jr. falling to pick 17 would be shocking, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to mention the possibility of the Orioles landing the leading man at my university. The left-handed outfielder is the fastest player in college baseball and has already tallied 116 stolen bases over the course of his two and a half year career at Vandy while playing elite defense in centerfield. He’s no slouch at the plate either, having batted above .300 in each of his first two seasons at the college level. While he got off to a slow start in 2023, he has shown improved plate discipline as a junior, walking 34 times while recording just 18 strikeouts. Bradfield Jr. possesses all of the tools necessary to be an elite outfielder at the top level, and given Baltimore’s affinity for drafting college bats in the first round, it would come as a surprise if they passed on him given the opportunity. 

Colton Ledbetter, OF, Mississippi State 

After breaking onto the scene during his sophomore season at Samford, Ledbetter transferred to Mississippi State prior to the start of 2023 and has enjoyed a phenomenal first half of the season. While the Bulldogs have been inconsistent to say the least, Ledbetter has been a rock at the top of the lineup, slashing .339/.487/.568 with 14 extra base hits, 38 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. His performance has seen him rise from an expected late-round pick to a potential first-round selection. Since Mississippi State seems unlikely to make the postseason, it may be difficult for Ledbetter to elevate his stock enough to be selected seventeenth overall. That being said, his talent is undeniable and it is very possible that he could be the next player to join the long line of left-handed-hitting outfielders selected in the Elias-era.  

Travis Honeyman, OF, Boston College 

Having seen very little action as a freshman, Honeyman has less experience at the college level than most of the other players on this list. However, he has taken every opportunity possible to show his talent. His career average of .300 is a reflection of his strong bat-to-ball skills and he has shown improved power in each of his college seasons. Furthermore, he has struck out just 34 times in 287 career at bats, illustrating a patient and disciplined approach. Honeyman will need to have a strong finish to the season if he is going to see his name called on opening night of the MLB draft, but given the lack of depth at the outfield position in this year’s class, he could find himself in Baltimore if the front office decides to go that route.  

The Pitchers 

Brandon Sproat, RHP, Florida 

After failing to reach a deal with the Mets, who selected him 90th overall in last year’s draft, Sproat has spent all of 2023 showing them why they were wrong for not meeting his asking price. While his ERA has risen significantly from the 3.41 mark he posted last season, one look at his stats tell a completely different story. The right-hander has posted 13.07 K/9 (8.23 last season) while holding opponents to a measly .190 batting average (.251 last season) through eight starts. His arsenal consists of one of the best fastballs in college baseball that tops out close to 100 MPH as well as three solid offspeed pitches to keep opponents off balance. He is still somewhat raw, which may come as a concern to big league clubs given that he is already 22, but the stuff is good enough to make him a desirable candidate nonetheless. The Orioles haven’t taken a pitcher in the first round since 2018 but thanks to the lack of quality arms throughout the farm system, Sproat could easily be at the top of their draft board this summer.  

Juaron Watts-Brown, RHP, Oklahoma State  

While he may only be a sophomore, Watts-Brown already possesses all of the tools necessary to be a successful pitcher at the next level. Having compiled a slew of accolades as a freshman at Long Beach State including the NCBWA National Pitcher Award for the Month for May and Freshman All-American honors, Watts-Brown transferred to Oklahoma State during the offseason. He has been equally as dominant since his arrival, posting a 3.30 ERA with 73 strikeouts and just 21 walks in 46.1 innings this season. While his fastball doesn’t jump off the page, he possesses a solid four-pitch mix headlined by a wipeout slider that has helped to shut down some of the Big 12’s best offenses. Having all but conquered the college level, the only question that remains about Watts-Brown is how well his slender frame will translate into minor league ball. He is currently being mocked as an early second-round pick, but don’t be surprised if he works his way into the top 20 by draft night.  

Tanner Witt, RHP, Texas 

Witt is one of the biggest question marks of this year’s draft class. After an excellent freshman year in which he posted a 3.16 ERA out of the Longhorns’ bullpen, he seemed destined for a starting role in 2022. However, his season ended thanks to Tommy John surgery after just two starts. With a 6’6″ build, a fastball that can reach 97 MPH, and a curveball that has an elite spin rate, there are few questions about Witt’s ability to succeed at the next level. However, he will first need to show that he is the same pitcher he was before the surgery. His expected return date is towards the end of April and if he can post stat lines anywhere near what he did as a freshman, he will secure a spot in the first round. Given where the Orioles are selecting, it would not surprise me in the slightest to see them take a chance on Witt’s upside.