With the No. 19 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Baltimore Orioles selected Ike Irish. Here are a few things to know about the newest member of the Orioles organization:
Auburn’s Iron Bat
Standing 6-foot-2 and tipping the scales at 210 pounds, Irish has been one of the steadiest bats in the Southeastern Conference and one of college baseball’s toughest outs as a catcher for the University of Auburn. The Hudsonville, Michigan, native made an immediate splash as a freshman in 2023, posting a slash line of .361/.429/.546 with a .975 OPS., and he never cooled off. By the end of his junior season, the 21-year-old slashed .364/.469/.710 with an OPS 1.179, knocking out 19 home runs and 58 RBIs — good enough to be recognized as a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, college baseball’s top honor. Irish’s calling card has always been his mature left-handed swing and professional approach at the plate. Coaches and teammates describe him as a hitter who can spray the ball to all fields and rarely gives away an at-bat — qualities that tend to travel well to the next level.
A Bat That Plays Anywhere
While he is one of this year’s most polished college hitters, Irish’s defensive game is still a work in progress. Primarily a catcher in his first two seasons, Irish suffered a fractured scapula early in 2025 and played most of the season in the outfield. With a strong arm and improvements in his receiving skills and mechanics, Irish could stay behind the plate, although most scouts predict he will be moved into the outfield, most likely in right. But make no mistake, Irish has the bat skills to warrant a spot in any lineup. Irish’s swing is short, simple, and built for barrels. He punishes velocity, adjusts mid-count, and isn’t afraid to work deep into at-bats. In each of his three seasons with Auburn, Irish posted more walks than strikeouts, a trait scouts love when projecting a quick rise through pro ball.
A Commitment That Stood Strong
Irish’s consistency didn’t begin in college. Back in high school, he finished as Perfect Game’s No. 39 prep prospect and third-rated catcher in the nation — the kind of ranking that makes skipping college tempting. But Irish stuck to his word. Despite pro buzz as a senior at St. Mary’s Prep in Michigan, he honored his early commitment to Auburn, telling reporters that through prayer, he became determined to develop his game and himself on the Plains. It wasn’t just about baseball — it was about trusting the program he had chosen and seeing that promise through. It’s the kind of loyalty that stands out to coaches, teammates, and now to pro scouts who value makeup as much as raw talent.
A Track Record That Speaks for Itself
Across three seasons at Auburn, Irish never hit below .319. He racked up multi-hit games, peppered doubles from foul line to foul line, and showed he could handle the best arms college baseball had to offer, earning earned multiple All-America honors and First-Team All-SEC recognition. When draft boards started taking shape this spring, Irish’s name was in bold for every club that values hit tool, plate discipline, and leadership — traits that tend to translate no matter the uniform.
Rooted in Michigan, Polished in the SEC
Off the field, Irish’s story is one of steady work and no-nonsense focus. Growing up in Hudsonville, he built his swing in Midwestern batting cages, refining a gap-to-gap approach that’s now his signature. At Auburn, he earned a reputation as a player who lets his results speak for him — unflappable and consistent, win or lose. Fans hoping for a bat that won’t shy away from the moment won’t have to wait long. If his track record holds, Ike Irish will bring the same steady presence and pure swing to pro ball that turned him into a household name on the Plains.
Bottom Line
Pure hitters like Ike Irish don’t come around every draft. His swing is simple, his approach is advanced, and the production speaks for itself. He’s not the loudest prospect, but he’s the kind who shows up every day and barrels baseballs, no fuss, no flash. Irish may not need much time before he’s knocking on the door to the big leagues — and when he gets there, expect the same steady presence that turned him into one of Auburn’s most dependable bats. For fans wanting a reason to believe in the Orioles’ rebound, Ike Irish gives you a pretty good one.
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