Minor League Baseball

Baltimore Orioles Praised For Cobbling Together Top-Ranked 2025 MLB Draft Class

By selecting the likes of Ike Irish, Caden Bodine, Wehiwa Aloy and Slater de Brun, the Baltimore Orioles took full advantage of their treasure trove of draft picks this week.
Sam Connon|
Auburn Tigers' Ike Irish (18) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the NC State Wolfpack during the NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament at Plainsman Park in Auburn, AL.
Auburn Tigers' Ike Irish (18) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the NC State Wolfpack during the NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament at Plainsman Park in Auburn, AL. | Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Baltimore Orioles

In case their farm system hadn't earned enough praise already, the Baltimore Orioles continued to lap up the accolades in Atlanta this week.

MLB Pipeline senior writer Jim Callis ranked which organizations did the best job "hoarding talent" in the 2025 MLB Draft on Tuesday, slotting the Orioles in at No. 1. They beat out the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays, Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox.

Baltimore took full advantage of having four picks before the second round, leading the way with six selections from MLB Pipeline's Top 100 big board.

The Orioles took Auburn outfielder/catcher Ike Irish at No. 19 overall, then turned around and picked Coastal Carolina catcher Caden Bodine at No. 30. They managed to snag Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy at No. 31, adding to reigning Golden Spikes Award winner to their farm system, before picking up the top-ranked high school outfielder in Slater de Brun at No. 37.

Baltimore added Michigan State left-handed pitcher Joseph Dzierwa in the second, Georgia right-handed pitcher JT Quinn in competitive balance round B, Vanderbilt outfielder RJ Austin in the third, UC Irvine shortstop Colin Yeaman and USC left-handed pitcher Caden Hunter in the sixth.

After the Orioles already developed Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez, Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, Heston Kjerstad, Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo in recent years – to say nothing of the prospects they traded like Joey Ortiz, DL Hall, Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby – it seems like the rich got richer at this year's first-year player draft.

Related MiLB Stories

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  • CUBS TRADE RUMORS: While the Chicago Cubs might not be willing to part ways with outfielder Owen Caissie for a rental, they could move off of the top prospect for a bigger package at the trade deadline. CLICK HERE
  • JARED JONES 2.0: First baseman Jared Jones, who followed in Paul Skenes' footsteps by helping LSU win the Men's College World Series, is set to join a Pittsburgh Pirates farm system that already developed a pitcher named Jared Jones. CLICK HERE

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer for “Minor League Baseball on SI’’ and other "On SI'' baseball sites. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for “UCLA on SI’’ and won awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for “New England Patriots on SI’’ and was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Follow Sam on Twitter @SamConnon.

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