3 outfielders the Orioles should target in the 2024 MLB Draft

As we approach the 2024 MLB Draft, it's time to look a bit closer at a handful of potential options for the Orioles. The O's are set to pick 22nd in the first round of the draft on Sunday, and thanks to Gunnar Henderson's 2023 Rookie of the Year award, they also possess the 32nd pick.

MLB instituted new rules that reward a team if any top-100 prospect is selected to their team's Opening Day roster and subsequently wins the RoY. The Diamondbacks also received a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick thanks to Corbin Carroll taking home the NL RoY.

Because the Orioles pick so late in the first round, it's impossible to chart the path to determine which players might be available at pick number 22. But we can look at prospect lists and expert mock drafts and try to find some targets that might make sense for Mike Elias and company on Sunday afternoon.

Three outfield prospects who could be impact hitters for the Orioles

MLB Pipeline has Oklahoma State star Carson Benge ranked at number 18 overall, but there's a chance that he'll be on the board when the Orioles come up to pick. Benge functioned as both a starting pitcher and as a right fielder for the Cowboys despite undergoing Tommy John surgery that cost him his 2022 season on the mound.

Benge has been open about preferring offense to pitching, although he did have a mid-90's fastball in college and strong results on the mound. As an outfielder, Benge hit .335/.444/.665 in 2024 while notching 18 homers, 24 doubles, and 10 steals. He hit well with the wood bat in the Cape Cod league in 2023 and has strong plate discipline that should translate well as he works his way through the professional ranks.

Ryan Waldschmidt is another college bat who excelled at Kentucky. The righty has struggled through a number of injuries throughout his college and prep career but stayed healthy in 2024 and was impressive.

Waldschmidt hit .333/.469/.610 for the Wildcats while stealing 25 bases in 59 games. The primary knock is that Waldschmidt doesn't have a great arm and has been limited mostly to left field in college.

Despite the defensive shortfalls, he's been a good enough hitter to warrant consideration in this range during draft day. Waldschmidt's elite plate discipline should be a carrying tool as his power continues to develop.

Slade Caldwell is an intriguing prep bat out of Valley View HS in Jonesboro, Arkansas. MLB Pipeline notes Caldwell's advanced plate approach for a hitter of his age and while he likely won't be a power hitter in the majors, he's quick and dynamic enough to vault him into consideration.

Caldwell is committed to Ole' Miss so he might require an over-slot bonus to get him to sign. However, there are few center fielders in this draft class who have Caldwell's unique blend of speed, defense, and plate discipline so it's possible the Orioles consider him if he's available when they pick.