Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 35 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

The Orioles tend to covet bat-to-ball skills at the top of the Draft, but they pivoted big time by taking toolsy outfielder Vance Honeycutt with their first pick of the 2024 Draft. Ten picks later, they reverted back to their comfort zone by selecting O’Ferrall with the PPI pick they were awarded for Gunnar Henderson winning 2023 AL Rookie of the Year Award. O’Ferrall was fresh off a college starring turn for Team USA and the University of Virginia, where he set the single-season hits record as a sophomore and was named the nation’s top shortstop as a junior. But he was challenged in his first full season of pro ball, finishing with a .626 OPS, though he briefly reached Double-A at the end of the year.

In college, O’Ferrall’s contact skills made him a steady performer whose excellent fundamentals elevated his game. He’s shown good plate discipline in the pros, as well as an ability to grind out at-bats and get on base. But his lack of impact at the plate drags down his overall offensive ceiling. He doesn’t hit the ball particularly hard despite making a lot of contact, and needs to drive the baseball more consistently to be an average hitter. His footspeed is a tick better than average but plays up because he’s a smart baserunner, helping him swipe 42 bases last season.

O’Ferrall has enough quickness and range defensively to handle shortstop, though his just-average arm may fit better at second. His strong instincts, makeup and baseball IQ should help him move around, enhancing his floor. Though he lacks eye-popping tools, O’Ferrall plays hard and does a lot of little things well, making him the kind of player who is greater than the sum of his parts, but he probably needs to hit more to be an everyday player.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 35 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

The latest in a long line of quality Draft talent to come out of the University of Virginia, O’Ferrall set the school’s single-season hits record as a sophomore, starred for Team USA that summer and was named the nation’s top shortstop as a junior. The Orioles took him with their second Day 1 selection in the 2024 Draft (No. 32 overall), using the PPI pick they were awarded for Gunnar Henderson winning Rookie of the Year to bring in a steady performer whose excellent fundamentals elevate his game and allow him to get every ounce out of his ability. While he showed good plate discipline during his first full season, he lacked impact, finishing with a .626 OPS, almost entirely with High-A Aberdeen.

From Adley Rutschman to Colton Cowser to Enrique Bradfield Jr., the Orioles have consistently coveted bat-to-ball skills at the top 42 b of the Draft (with a few exceptions) under their current regime. O’Ferrall has impressive abilities in this category. He walked more than he struck out in college, has very good feel for the barrel and makes sound swing decisions, which allow him to grind out at-bats and get on base. That continued in 2025, with an 11.4 percent walk rate and just a 14.9 pct K rate. He relies on being a tough out because his power is limited, and while the lack of pop might drag down O'Farrell's overall offensive ceiling, he could develop into an above-average hitter. His footspeed is a tick better than average, and he can steal bases and rarely makes mistakes between the lines, leading him to swipe 42 bases last season.

Defensively, too, O’Ferrall is greater than the sum of his parts. Good footwork, positioning and quickness help him overcome a just-average but accurate arm, and while he has enough range to stick at shortstop, those skills would help him move around the infield if necessary, and he saw time at second base in 2025. While O’Ferrall doesn’t have eye-popping tools, he has plus instincts, makeup and a high floor with probably enough upside to develop into an everyday player, and a floor as a utility type.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

The University of Virginia baseball program has routinely churned out tremendous Draft talent, highlighted by Ryan Zimmerman and Chris Taylor, plus recent early-round picks Kyle Teel and Jake Gelof in 2023 and Jake’s older brother, Zack, in 2021. O’Ferrall doesn’t quite have the thump those predecessors showed, but he performed for three years in the ACC and was one of the best hitters for Team USA last summer, helping him land with the Orioles with the PPI pick they were awarded for Gunnar Henderson winning Rookie of the Year honors.

While O’Ferrall doesn’t have any eye-popping tools, he gets every ounce out of his abilities thanks to plus instincts and makeup. He knows who he is as a hitter, with impressive bat-to-ball skills and an ability to work at-bats. He draws walks and gets on base, and while there isn’t a ton of impact or power, he has a very good feel for the barrel. He’s a tick-above-average runner but is smart on the basepaths and can steal a base.

Just like with his offensive game, O’Ferrall is greater than the sum of his parts in the infield. He might have just average arm strength, but it plays better because he uses his feet well and always puts himself in the position to get rid of the ball quickly and accurately. He has good footwork and enough range with a good chance to stick at shortstop long-term. 

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

The University of Virginia baseball program has routinely churned out tremendous Draft talent, highlighted by Ryan Zimmerman and Chris Taylor on the position-player side, with recent early-round picks Kyle Teel and Jake Gelof in 2023 and Jake’s older brother, Zack, in 2021. O’Ferrall doesn’t quite have the thump those predecessors showed, but he has performed for two years running in the ACC and was one of the best hitters for Team USA over the summer.

While O’Ferrall doesn’t have any eye-popping tools, he gets every ounce out of his abilities thanks to plus instincts and makeup. He knows who he is as a hitter, with impressive bat-to-ball skills and an ability to work at-bats. He draws walks and gets on base, and while there isn’t a ton of impact or power, he has a very good feel for the barrel. He’s a tick-above-average runner, but is smart on the basepaths and can steal a base.

Just like with his offensive game, O’Ferrall is greater than the sum of his parts in the infield. He might have just average arm strength, but it plays better because he uses his feet well and always puts himself in the position to get rid of the ball quickly and accurately. He has good footwork and enough range with a good chance to stick at shortstop long-term. His performance puts him in the top few rounds, and if he shows any strength gains in 2024, he could float up boards. 

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	02/21/2026	SS Griff O'Ferrall assigned to Baltimore Orioles.
	02/21/2026	SS Griff O'Ferrall roster status changed by Baltimore Orioles.
	09/02/2025	SS Griff O'Ferrall assigned to Chesapeake Baysox from Aberdeen IronBirds.
	03/08/2025	SS Griff O'Ferrall assigned to Baltimore Orioles.
	03/08/2025	SS Griff O'Ferrall roster status changed by Baltimore Orioles.
	03/06/2025	activated SS Griff O'Ferrall.
	09/03/2024	SS Griff O'Ferrall assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds from Delmarva Shorebirds.
	08/13/2024	SS Griff O'Ferrall assigned to Delmarva Shorebirds from FCL Orioles.
	08/05/2024	SS Griff O'Ferrall assigned to FCL Orioles.
	07/19/2024	Baltimore Orioles signed SS Griff O'Ferrall.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated SS Griff O'Ferrall.
	03/20/2024	SS Griff O'Ferrall assigned to Virginia Cavaliers.
	06/26/2023	SS Griff O'Ferrall roster status changed by USAB Stars Team.
	06/26/2023	SS Griff O'Ferrall assigned to USAB Stars Team.
	05/24/2023	College Workout activated SS Griff O'Ferrall.
	05/24/2023	College Workout activated SS Griff O'Ferrall.
	05/20/2023	SS Griff O'Ferrall assigned to Virginia Cavaliers.
	05/04/2022	SS Griff O'Ferrall and assigned to Virginia Cavaliers.