The Baltimore Orioles are already stacked with young talent and they beefed up their farm system even more on Sunday night in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft adding some Virginia flare.
With the 32nd overall pick, Baltimore selected former Virginia Cavalier Griff O'Ferrall, No. 38 on the top 250 draft prospect list. O'Ferrall, a Richmond area native who attended St. Christopher's High School, is the 14th first round pick the Hoos have produced under head coach Brian O'Connor. O'Ferrall had the most career hits and runs scored of any three year player in UVA baseball history and set the UVA single-season hits record as a sophomore in 2023 with 108.
Joining him will be fellow UVA teammate and Virginia Beach native Ethan Anderson selected 61st overall by Baltimore. The former Cox Falcon was a First Team All-ACC selection as a junior in 2024 and was one of 16 semifinalists for the Buster Posey Award, annually given to the nation’s top catcher. Anderson started all 63 games, batted .331 (82-for-248) with 67 runs scored, 20 doubles, eight homers and 40 RBI on UVA’s College World Series team. He reached base safely in his final 35 games of the year.
Anderson ranks in the top-10 in program history in doubles (3rd – 58), career homers (28 – T-7th), career runs scored (9th – 173) and career total bases (10th – 373). As a sophomore in 2023 he broke UVA’s single season record with 26 doubles.
It marks the second-straight season that multiple Cavaliers were selected in the first two rounds.
With their first pick of the night with the 22nd overall selection the Orioles took Vance Honeycutt out of UNC. The centerfielder was a 2- time ACC defensive player of the year guided the Tar Heels to the College World Series this season.
Local players taken on Day 2:
Ocean Lakes product Carson DeMartini received the life-changing call on Monday afternoon. The Hokies third baseman was taken 130th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies. He was the No. 93 on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list.
Pitcher Wyatt Parliament was also drafted out of Virginia Tech, taken No. 211 overall by the New York Yankees.
Virginia Beach native and former Cox Falcon Fenwick Trimble was selected in the 4th round, No. 122 overall by the Miami Marlins. The JMU outfielder led the Dukes in slugging percentage, runs scored, hits, RBI’s, doubles, home runs, total bases, and appearances at bat.
The UVA selections continued on day 2 of the draft. With their 4th-round pick (No. 107 overall), the Chicago White Sox selected Virginia outfielder Casey Saucke who finished his career with 159 RBI and 50 doubles, both tied for the eighth-most in UVA history.
Old Dominion right handed pitcher John Holobetz was selected 156th overall to the Milwaukee Brewers.