Orioles’ draft picks Booth, Head, Roberts get first taste of big leagues

BALTIMORE—Three top draft picks got their first experience of taking batting practice at Camden Yards on Saturday. They hope they’ll be taking it before a major league game in the next few years.

Eric Booth Jr., the Orioles’ top draft pick, the seventh overall; Ty Head, their second-rounder; and Kevin Roberts Jr., their fourth-round pick, got to visit the Orioles’ clubhouse, meet players and manager Craig Albernaz.

Booth, an outfielder who’s a graduate of Oak Grove, Mississippi high school, signed for a reported $7,324,700. Many of the mock drafts had the Orioles taking Booth or Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress, but when Booth was available, the Orioles chose him.

“That’s what I always hoped,” Booth said. “I hoped I ended up coming here, which I did, and it was amazing. I enjoyed it when I came for the workout.”

Booth described himself as a “hard worker and competitive player that always wants to win. I’m going to do whatever I can to help this team get better.”

Roberts, whose signing was announced on Saturday, played against Booth in high school. Roberts, whose 18^th birthday is Monday, played for Jackson Prep in Flowood, Mississippi. He’s also an outfielder.

“We knew we were going to come up and be pretty good at this baseball thing,” Roberts said. “Not a lot of guys get to call their buddies and say they just got drafted by the same team. I called him as soon as I got drafted.”

Asked to describe himself as a player, Roberts said: “Somebody who’s going to hustle all the time. Not a rah-rah guy, pretty level-headed, but gets the job done and works hard every day.”

Head, another outfielder, played two years at North Carolina State. After orientation in Sarasota, he’ll report to Single-A Delmarva on August 10^th.

“I’m ready to get going,” Head said. “It’s been a long time, but I’m really excited to show them what I’m made of. I never want to get out. I never want to strike out. Having that grittiness in the box. It’s me versus him.”

In 2026, Head walked 57 times and struck out 23 times.

In recent years, the Orioles haven’t had high school draft picks play in the year they were drafted. Booth and Roberts will work out in Sarasota

The Orioles have announced that they’ve signed the first 18 players they’ve drafted.

Besides Booth, Head and Roberts, they’ve signed their third-round pick, right-handed pitcher Dominic Voegele; shortstop  Jimmy Anderson (5^th); left-handed pitcher Zane Adams (6^th); right-handed pitcher Ryan Piech (7^th); shortstop Will Plunkett (8^th); right-handed pitcher Collin McKinney (9^th); utility player Carlos Sanchez (10^th); right-handed pitcher Ross Norman (11^th); catcher Leo Marrero (12^th); right-handed pitcher Garrison Sumner (13^th); right-handed pitcher Miguel Hugas (14^th); right-handed pitcher Braden Smith (15^th); shortstop Brayden Fry (16^th); right-handed pitcher Diego Gutierrez (17^th),;and right-handed pitcher Gunnar Garrison (18^th).

Their unsigned players are Texas high school outfielder Oscar Salazar (19^th), and Texas high school right-hander Ross Davis (20^th).

The deadline for signing Salazar and Davis is Monday at 5 p.m.

Notes: Chris Bassitt, who’s on the 60-day injured list after back surgery, threw a two-inning bullpen session. “He looked great. He felt great,” Albernaz said. “The ball was coming out well. He was moving great coming off the mound. It was a very encouraging bullpen for Bass.” … Outfielder Colton Cowser, who’s in a 2-for-35 slump, is not in the lineup against a right-hander. … Catcher Adley Rutschman, who’s on the 10-day injured list with left wrist inflammation, threw but didn’t catch before batting practice. “He’s progressing positively,” Albernaz said. … Catcher Samuel Basallo, who’s on the 10-day IL with right shoulder inflammation, is resting for a few days. “He’s in great spirits,” Albernaz said.

Orioles-Braves lineups

Orioles

Dylan Beavers-RF

Pete Alonso-1B

Gunnar Henderson-SS

Taylor Ward-LF

Christian Encarnacion-Strand-3B

Leody Taveras-CF

Tyler O’Neill-DH

Jackson Holliday-2B

Chadwick Tromp-C

Brandon Young-RHP

Braves

Drake Baldwin-C

Ozzie Albies-2B

Matt Olson-1B

Michael Harris II-CF

Mauricio Dubón-LF

Dominic Smith-DH

Austin Riley-3B

Mike Yastrzemski-RF

Jim Jarvis-SS

Bryce Elder-RHP

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com