The Baltimore Orioles wasted little time agreeing to terms with its first round selection.
Friday, Jim Callis of MLB.com reported that the Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with former Auburn star Ike Irish. Irish signed with the Orioles organization for a signing bonus of $4.4M, which nearly matches the slot value for the No. 19 overall selection.
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Irish will now begin his professional career after three wonderful years at Auburn, where he improved with every year. He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2023 by starting all 58 games and recording 50 RBI and a .361 batting average. He served as the Tigers’ primary designated hitter as a freshman, but he also made 11 starts at first base and one start at catcher. His amazing rookie campaign ended with four Freshman All-America nods and a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team.
Irish showcased more power in his sophomore and junior seasons by combining to hit 33 home runs and slugging over .627 in both seasons. His final season at Auburn saw him log 19 home runs, 58 RBI, and a .364 batting average.
Irish was a versatile player at Auburn, so how will he fit in within the Orioles’ organization? Nick Ziegler of the Baltimore Orioles on Sports Illustrated suggests that Irish could become a full-time outfielder due to the depth the organization has at catcher. No matter where he ends up, expect Irish to make a quick impact within the organization.
Irish is the 10th Auburn Tiger to be drafted by the Orioles, joining the likes of Gregg Olson, Chase Allsup, and Trace Bright. He also joined the likes of Auburn legends that include Casey Mize, Frank Thomas, and Josh Donaldson by being the 10th Tiger to be drafted in the first round of the MLB draft. Irish is the Tigers first first round selection since Casey Mize went No. 1 overall in 2018 to the Detroit Tigers, and is the fifth player in Auburn history to be selected within the first 20 picks of the draft.
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This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: MLB draft 2025: Orioles agree to terms with first round pick Ike Irish