Could Golden Spikes Award winner fall to Orioles in MLB Draft?

Each year, USA Baseball hands out the Golden Spikes Award, given to the best amateur baseball player in the country. Past winners have included names such as Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant and Adley Rutschman.

This season, that honor was given to Wehiwa Aloy, a shortstop from the University of Arkansas. And in MLB Pipeline's latest mock draft, Aloy is projected to fall to Baltimore's pick at No. 19.

After hitting .376 with a 1.089 OPS as a freshman at Sacramento State, Aloy transferred to Arkansas for his sophomore season. There was certainly an adjustment period in the SEC, as the shortstop's numbers took a bit of a hit. Aloy still put together a solid sophomore campaign, though, hitting .270 with 14 home runs.

His junior season, though, is where things really came together.

Making great strides at the dish, Aloy hit .350 with an OPS over 1.100 en route to his Golden Spikes Award, coupled with SEC Player of the Year. His 21 home runs were also good for 15th in Division 1 baseball.

Wehiwa Aloy would be a great fit for the Orioles in the 2025 MLB Draft if he is available

MLB Pipeline's scouting report on Aloy notes that he has "plus raw juice that plays to all fields," a huge plus for a defender that profiles in the middle infield. Pipeline notes that Aloy has produced some impressive exit velocities, too.

An important stretch to look at, too, is Aloy's success in the Cape Cod Baseball League, renowned as one of the best leagues for college players in their offseasons. There, in 21 games with wood bats, Aloy's power still shined through with eight home runs, mashing .309 with a .994 OPS in the process.

The first question from many O's fans is to wonder why Baltimore wouldn't select a pitcher in the first round, something they haven't done since the selection of Grayson Rodriguez in 2018, the year before Mike Elias and company took the reigns. While it is possible that the O's could change course and select an arm, the team has often noted that drafting pitchers is much more volatile and unpredictable than selecting hitters. The Orioles' philosophy instead has been to draft bats and trade for arms, something they have done both at the big league and prospect levels.

With three picks in the top 31 selections of the draft, the Orioles have a golden opportunity to improve a farm system that has fallen down the rankings in recent seasons. Drafting Aloy, voted the best amateur baseball player in the country, would certainly be a good step in the right direction.

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