The Baltimore Orioles continue to work to get their 2024 MLB Draft class signed by next week.
The Baltimore Orioles have reached an agreement with their third-round pick, USC outfielder Austin Overn, on a contract, according to MLB Pipeline.
This marks just the second reported signing by the Orioles since the MLB Draft concluded last week. Over the weekend, the team also reportedly secured a deal with their compensatory pick, Virginia shortstop Griff O’Ferrall.
Neither agreement has been officially announced by the Orioles.
Overn’s deal is reportedly worth $850,000, surpassing his slot value of $752,500 for the No. 97 overall pick. Teams are allowed to go over or under slot with their draft picks as long as they stay within their bonus pool limits. The Orioles have a bonus pool of $10.920 million for this draft class.
A draft-eligible sophomore, Overn initially joined USC as a football player but switched to baseball after the 2022 football season. In 2023, he was named a Freshman All-American, All-Pac-12, and made the All-Pac-12 Defensive Team. He posted a .314/.402/.530 slash line and led the nation in triples with 14, setting a USC single-season record. Last season, he earned All-Pac-12 Defensive honors and All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, with a .270/.349/.461 slash line and five triples. He finishes his USC career second on the school’s all-time triples list with 19.
O’Ferrall, who signed an under-slot deal with Baltimore worth $2.7 million (below the $2.835 million slot value), joins an organization rich in middle infield talent. He was recognized as the top shortstop in the country with the Brooks Wallace Award last season. At Virginia, O’Ferrall set career records for hits and runs among three-year players.
All draft picks must be signed by the 5 p.m. Eastern deadline on August 1.
