Orioles Have Several Draft Options at Pick #19

Back in the Orioles’ current prospect field, they have a decent mix of positions. The glaring issue is the lack of a third baseman and a first baseman if Basallo is not moved to the position. Creed Willems is a good idea, but he has a limited ceiling.

Option #1: Xavier Neyens (3B/Mount Vernon High School)

2025 Stats (per goSkagit): .456 batting average; eight home runs; 10 doubles; 27 RBI; 49 runs scored.

The Orioles taking a high school player is a risky move, but Neyens has a very high ceiling. He’s the third-highest ranked third baseman in the draft and 25th overall. The Orioles so badly want to get Ethan Holliday, but unless he has a dramatic draft day fall, it’s not happening.

Scouts grade the 18-year-old with a 65 (out of 80) on his power and 60 on his arm, suggesting he might be a legitimate cornerstone at the position. His highest exit velocity topped 101 miles per hour, according to Perfect Game. Neyens has a “wide base, high hand set, and a high back elbow,” as described during the 2024 national showcase.

His swing grades out highly, too. Scouts grade his mechanics at “above average,” along with his plane on a swing. The big concern is whether he can tweak his direction to perhaps use the field a bit more, along with getting his arms out.

Most major sports outlets place the Orioles as one of the likelier teams to land Neyens. Some opinions have shifted, but the team knows they have to land a corner infielder to try and patch the hole left by Urías.

The team needs power and slugging for their lineup, especially with rumors that O’Hearn is gone at the trade deadline. Neyens will take at least three years to develop in the team’s farm system, and it will be a while. If he pans out, it immediately solves their revolving door at third in a few years.

Option #2: Gavin Fien (3B/Great Oak)

2025 Stats: 30 games; .358/.456/1.056; six doubles; one triple; five home runs; 11 BB to nine strikeouts; 8 SB

Gavin Fien is a solid backup plan for the team’s draft strategy. The 18-year-old Texas commit ranks as the best third-base prospect overall, according to Perfect Game. His batting stance and swing are nearly identical to Neyens’ execution, scoring almost equally in all metrics, maybe a few points lower in mechanics.

His stats are also consistent when batting. After freshman year, Fien never had fewer than 30 hits in a season, with a chunk of those being extra-base hits, or finished with an OBP under .450. His strikeout rate went from 20% in his sophomore year to under 10% by senior year. His swing, exit velocity, and plane are all positive. At 6’3″ and 200 pounds, he’s a little smaller than Neyers, but can run a little better.

The only real question about Fien is his fielding abilities. In 91 games played at the high-school level, the third baseman committed 23 errors in 242 total chances. He has double the number of errors in his career as he has double plays. Being young, he has time to iron out his fielding issues in the minor leagues.

Option #3: Patrick Forbes (RHP/Louisville)

2025 Stats: 15 games started; 4-2; 4.42 ERA; 71 1/3 innings pitched; 59 H and 34 BB; 117 K; 11 HBP and 11 WP; 7 HR; 1.30 WHIP

Let’s say the Orioles miss out on both third basemen or decide to go a different route this draft. They need to develop rotation-level pitching quickly, not only to replace Charlie Morton but also to give some cohesion to the staff. Forbes would be a good first choice for the team, as his development would likely be quick, and he has the foundation to be a high-strikeout pitcher.

The 21-year-old’s conversion to a starter in 2025 bore fruit, striking out 117 batters over 71 1/3 innings pitched. His walk rate is elevated, sitting at 4.3 walks per nine innings, but decreasing year-by-year. Home runs can be a bit of an issue, but he’s at an average of one per nine innings.

Two issues need to be addressed in Forbes’ development. First, when struggling with control, he has poor results. Forbes threw 11 wild pitches and had an additional 11 hit batters. That might be due to stamina issues, given that he just switched to a starter this year.

Second, he only has three pitches in his arsenal. The fastball can touch 100 miles an hour at times, but his changeup needs more development, according to Sports Illustrated. If he can work on the changeup and develop a sweeper or a curveball, he can be a mid-rotation guy or a number-four starter.

Option #4: Anthony Eyanson (RHP/Louisiana State)

2025 Stats: 18 games started; 12-2; 3.00 ERA; 108 innings pitched; 88 hits and 36 BB; 152 K; 8 HR; 5 HBP and 10 WP; 1.15 WHIP

If the Orioles want to shake the draft up, they can go for a big reach on Anthony Eyanson. The 20-year-old ranks 40th on the MLB Pipeline draft board, which seems low given his successful 2025 season. He’s another high-strikeout, high-ceiling pitcher the team can develop into a frontline starter.

Unlike Forbes, Eyanson already has four decent-grade pitches, including a high-marked slider and a slightly better-marked changeup. He has the fundamentals down, resulting in a low hit rate and a 0.7 home run per nine innings rate as well. Don’t forget that Eyanson’s contributions played a major role in the Tigers’ win in the 2025 College World Series.

Once again, Eyanson can have issues with control at points, throwing 10 wild pitches this year. He also appears to have a bit of trouble getting a tail or movement on his fastball despite it touching 98 miles an hour at points, according to MLB Pipeline. Still, if the Orioles draft him and develop his arm properly, he can be a fixture in the rotation for a while.

The good news is that, if the Orioles test their luck and see if he falls, they have additional picks at the 30th and 31st spots. He could fall that far, so they may wait on him and draft him later. Still, it would be a major win for the team if they land Eyanson.