Auburn star signs with Baltimore Orioles for $4.4 million
Auburn catcher/outfielder Ike Irish has signed with the Baltimore Orioles, the American League team announced on Friday.
The Orioles chose Irish with the 19th selection in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Sunday.
Irish joined Baltimore for a $4,418,400 signing bonus, mlb.com reported.
Irish was the second player picked in this year’s draft who wasn’t listed as a shortstop or a pitcher. The Chicago Cubs chose Wake Forest outfielder Ethan Conrad at No. 17.
Irish became the seventh consensus All-American in Auburn baseball history in 2025, when he batted .364 with a .710 slugging percentage.
In his three seasons with the Tigers, Irish hit .350 with a .435 on-base average and a .625 slugging percentage in 160 games. He totaled 160 runs, 223 hits, 48 doubles, five triples, 39 home runs, 167 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.
Irish is sixth on Auburn’s career home run list and ranks eighth in career slugging percentage.
The Orioles’ minor-league system includes the FCL Orioles in the rookie-level Florida Complex League in Sarasota, Fla.; the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Single-A Carolina League, the Aberdeen IronBirds of the High-A South Atlantic League, the Chesapeake Baysox of the Double-A Eastern League and the Norfolk Tides of the Triple-A International League.
Irish was not the first player with Alabama baseball roots to sign after being picked in this week’s draft.
Georgia third baseman Slate Alford from Bob Jones High School in Madison signed with the Los Angeles Angels, who picked him at No. 259 on Monday.
UAB outfielder Logan Braunschweig from Thompson High School in Alabaster signed with the Atlanta Braves, who picked him at No. 277 on Monday.
West Florida pitcher Dalton Neuschwander from Spanish Fort High School and Coastal Alabama-South signed with the Orioles, who picked him at No. 304 on Monday.
But they weren’t the first prospects who played at Alabama high schools and colleges to sign after the 2025 draft. University of Montevallo pitcher Adiel Melendez signed with the Braves as a rookie free agent after going undrafted.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
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