Oak Grove outfielder Eric 'EJ' Booth Jr. (3) is patted on the back after falling on the ground while catching a ball during the game against Northwest Rankin in Flowood, Miss., on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
The Orioles on Saturday selected Mississippi high school outfielder Eric Booth Jr. with the seventh overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft. It’s the first time the Orioles have picked a high school player with the first pick since Jackson Holliday, who was chosen first overall in 2022.
The 18-year-old Booth attended Oak Grove High School. He bats and throws left. This year, Booth hit .481 with ifve home run, and 31 RBIs.
The Chicago White Sox selected UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the first pick. Tampa Bay picked Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson. Minnesota’s pick was Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey. The fourth overall pick was UC-Santa Barbara right-handed pitcher Jackson Flora.
Pittsburgh picked LSU outfielder Derek Curiel with the fifth pick. Louisville outfielder Zion Rose was Kansas City’s pick at six.
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