MLB draft tracker: Orioles take high school outfielder Eric Booth Jr. in first round

Every MLB draft presents an opportunity to invest in the future. For the Orioles, this year’s draft comes as the organization faces questions about its long-term pipeline and its immediate direction.

The Orioles enter the draft with four Day 1 selections, headlined by the No. 7 overall pick. It is the first time Baltimore has held a top-10 choice since it selected Jackson Holliday first overall in 2022.

Baltimore’s Day One picks are:

• Round 1: No. 7
• Round 2: No. 46
• Round 3: No. 82
• Round 4: No. 110

Baltimore was originally slated to make another Day One selection at No. 33 with a Competitive Balance Round A pick. However, that pick was included in the trade that acquired Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays. That deal also sent the 30th and 37th overall picks from the 2025 draft class, Caden Bodine and Slater de Brun, to the Rays.

Last year, the Orioles entered the draft with the largest bonus pool in MLB. This year, they have the 13th-largest bonus pool at $13.114 million to sign their draft class. And, with a postseason appearance becoming increasingly unlikely, president of baseball operations Mike Elias will have to balance buying and selling ahead of the trade deadline.

Follow along for notes and analysis of the Orioles’ first day.

First round, No. 7, OF Eric Booth Jr., Oak Grove High School (Mississippi)

In 1993, Eric Booth Sr. was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays but elected to play as a kick returner at Southern Mississippi. Saturday, his son was selected with the No. 7 pick by the Orioles.

Booth, 18, is the first high school batter Elias has selected with the team’s top pick since Holliday.

Booth has inherited his father’s speed, which made him the top high school outfield prospect in the draft. At the East Coast Pro showcase in August 2025, Booth’s 60-yard dash led the participants with a time of 6.33 seconds.

As a junior, Booth hit .467 with 25 RBIs, six home runs and 27 stolen bases. He won the home run derby at the Perfect Game All-American Classic. And, in his senior year, Booth improved even more, batting .487 with 31 RBIs, five home runs and 23 stolen bases. Prior to the draft, Booth committed to Vanderbilt University.

MLB Pipeline’s scouting report notes that arm strength has been a question for the 6-foot lefty, though Booth has worked in the lead-up to the draft to improve it to an average level.

“It really stood out in a predraft workout we had in Sarasota,” vice president of domestic scouting Will Robertson said. “We had him throw to bases, and it was by far the strongest we’ve seen his arm.”

The report also notes that, although Booth has “an unconventional setup” at the plate, he has an advanced feel for the barrel and controls the strike zone well.

Baseball America and MLB Pipeline ranked Booth as the No. 6 prospect in this class.

Second round, No. 46: OF Ty Head, NC State

Head, 21, batted .285 while slugging .531 with the Wolfpack in the Atlantic Coast Conference this year. He was recognized as a Rawlings Gold Glove recipient, becoming the third player in program history to receive the award and the second outfielder.

When Head went to North Carolina State, he became the fifth person in his immediate family to play at a Division I program.

Both of his parents, Bob and Michelle, played at Eastern Kentucky University on the football and basketball teams, respectively. His older brother, Bobby, played baseball at Austin Peay University and Florida Gulf Coast University, and his older sister, Taylor, played volleyball at Arkansas and Florida State.

Now, Head has the distinction of being the only one of his siblings to turn pro.

According to Baseball America’s scouting report, Head has a strong feel for the barrel and makes plenty of contact with a disciplined approach, though his swing mechanics can become noisy and choppy, causing him to move in and out of the hitting zone too quickly. The report also notes his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame suggests untapped power potential.

Baseball America ranked Head as the 53rd-best prospect in the class, while MLB Pipeline had him at No. 60.

Robertson called Head a “ball-hawk defender.”

“We just thought it was a rare collection of traits, and his ability to control the strike zone and grind through plate appearances stands out amongst his peers in this class and any class,” Robertson added.

Third round, No. 82: RHP Dominic Voegele, Kansas

The 82nd pick is the last draft slot that is valued at seven figures this year. For Voegele, that’s a major upgrade from the money he would have gotten in 2023, when he was selected in the 20th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Baltimore’s first pitcher of this draft is a 21-year-old coming off a season in which he posted an ERA of 5.85 across 97 innings and led Kansas to the Big 12 championship.

Finishing with a regular-season record of 45-18, the Jayhawks earned the No. 15 national seed in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Super Regional final before dropping two straight games to Oklahoma.

Voegele finished his Kansas career with 289 strikeouts, the second most in program history and the most ever by a pitcher in just three seasons. In 2026, Voegele was the only Division I pitcher to have multiple games with at least 15 strikeouts.

According to Baseball America’s scouting report, Voegele is a polished strike thrower with above-average control, a deep repertoire and a fastball that reaches 98 mph. Although he lacks a true plus pitch, the report says his command, reliability and ability to log innings make him an effective starter.

Baseball America ranked Voegele as the 195th-best prospect, while MLB Pipeline had him at No. 205.

Fourth round, No. 110: OF Kevin Roberts Jr., Jackson Prep HS (Mississippi)

With its last pick of the day, Baltimore selected another outfielder.

Roberts, 17, is one of the youngest players in this year’s draft class but possesses some of its highest upside thanks to his size, speed and power. His senior year, he finished the season batting .396 with 10 home runs. Prior to the draft, the Mississippi native was committed to Florida.

According to Baseball America’s scouting report, Roberts has tremendous bat speed and the potential for high power, giving him one of the highest ceilings in the class. The report notes he has a promising approach but can struggle to adjust to quality breaking pitches, making his offensive consistency the biggest question in his development.

Baseball America ranked Roberts as the 95th-best prospect in the class. MLB Pipeline had him at No. 136.

“His physical abilities stand out, really, at the top of the class,” Robertson said. “We think he has some of the highest upside in this class, with huge power, speed, arm strength. He has a good track record of hitting on the whole. So it’s just an incredible blend of traits, and at only 17 years old, we’re really excited to get our hands on him and see what he can develop into.”

This article has been updated.