ASU shortstop Steven Ondina signed with Baltimore Orioles after going undrafted

He originally was the No. 68 prospect in the country by baseball outlet Perfect Game and ranked as the No. 12 shortstop. Born in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, he was tabbed as the No. 2 prospect from his home country in the class of 2020.

Ondina then started his collegiate career at Florida International University for three seasons (2021-23). For the Panthers, the 5-foot-8, 160-pound shortstop owned a .247 AVG, 38 RBIS and two home runs in 110 games (107 starts).

For his senior year, Ondina decided to transfer to ASU and saw a huge spike in his offensive output. In 58 games (52 starts), he increased his batting average to .291, drove home 29 RBIs and tripled his home run count from FIU in his lone season in Tempe, 6.

By joining the Orioles who have developed and produced star-studded talent at the shortstop position, Ondina has a chance to learn and have a promising career.

MLB superstar Manny Machado started the first seven years of his career in Baltimore, was a three-time All-Star and was considered in the league MVP race in 2013, 2015 and 2016.

Current Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson was an All-Star this year as he is having himself a breakout season after winning the 2023 MLB Rookie of the Year Award. This year, he is batting .289 with 63 RBIs and 28 home runs in 97 games so far for Baltimore who are 60-39 and the No. 1 team in the American League.

With Ondina set to embark on his professional journey in the near future, ASU has found his potential replacement, UTSA transfer Matt King, in the offseason.

King played the past three seasons (2021-23) at UTSA and batted .304, had four home runs and 180 hits. Last year, the 6-foot-1, 194-pound shortstop recorded a career-high average of .336, 41 RBIs and 74 hits in 55 games.

Outfielder Nick McClain (No. 78 pick, Chicago White Sox), catcher Ryan Campos (No. 109, St. Louis Cardinals), pitcher Ryan Schiefer (No. 426, Tampa Bay Rays) and pitcher Hunter Omlid (No. 588, Colorado Rockies) were all drafted out of ASU. 2025 Sun Devils commit Nick Montgomery was taken in the fifth round, No. 161 overall by the Atlanta Braves.