How are Orioles’ recent draft choices doing? | MAILBAG

Question: How do you rate the progress of the top three selections of both the 2023 and 2024 drafts? I’d be interested in their ability to know the strike zone (walks to K’s) and their ability to hit for average versus just occasional power. From: Joe Rees, Aiken, South Carolina

Answer: Joe, the Orioles traded their second and third picks from the 2023 draft, infielder Mac Horvath and pitcher Jackson Baumeister along with outfielder Scott Ezell to Tampa Bay for Zach Eflin, leaving Enrique Bradfield Jr., the first-round pick.

Bradfield is batting only .234 this year, but he’s shown good plate discipline. His on-base percentage is .370, and he’s walked 22 times and struck out 23 times. He’s hit only one home run.

The 2024 top draftees, outfielder Vance Honeycutt, infielder Griff O’Ferrall and catcher/first baseman Ethan Anderson, are all at High-A Aberdeen.

Honeycutt has had a rough first full year in pro ball, and after striking out in all four at-bats on Wednesday night, he’s hitting just .199 with only two home runs and more than 2 ½ strikeouts than walks.

O’Ferrall’s average is .205, not much better than  Honeycutt’s and has four home runs. His strikeout to walk ratio is much better and his OBP is about 100 points higher than his batting average.

Anderson is currently on the injured list, and he’s hitting .241 with a home runs and 20 RBIs. He has 38 strikeouts and 17 walks for a .319 OBP.

So, there’s a lot of room for improvement in the top drafted players from 2023 and 2024.

Question: What’s the update on Brandon Young? From: Dean Burnett

Answer: Dean, Brandon Young missed a month with a shoulder injury. He’s pitched two rehab games at High-A Aberdeen, and I would expect him to return to Triple-A Norfolk soon and be available for the Orioles in the coming weeks.

Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.