Scouting Report

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

After a decorated high school career, Irish established himself as one of the most complete offensive players in the 2025 Draft class, slashing .364/.469/.710 and mashing 13 homers in 28 Southeastern Conference games for Auburn. He was one of the most polished bats available when the Orioles took him No. 19 overall and signed him for a full-slot deal of $4.42 million. He scuffled in his 20-game pro debut at Single-A Delmarva, producing a .594 OPS.

A left-handed hitter with a mature approach, Irish makes hard contact to all fields and hangs in against same-side pitching. He handles velocity and spin, doesn’t need to sell out for power and projects to hit for average with 20-plus home run potential, though his propensity to hit the ball on the ground has evaluators split on how the power will translate in pro ball. Even so, his bat is viewed as his carrying tool and should allow him to profile in a variety of offensive roles.

Irish entered his junior season as perhaps the nation’s best catching prospect, but played mostly right field after fracturing his right scapula on a hit-by-pitch. His pro debut added another layer of versatility, as he split time between catcher, right field and first base. The arm is strong enough to land him in right or behind the plate, where decent receiving skills probably give him a ceiling of an average defender. The Orioles announced him as a catcher, but they are no strangers to moving backstops around as they progress through their system. In Irish’s case, such usage reflects a growing belief that his long-term value may come from finding the defensive home that best allows his bat to play.

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50

Irish was part of a St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) club that won three straight championships in his three full seasons in 2019, '21 and '22. Those teams featured two players who received seven-figure bonuses (Brock Porter out of high school, Alex Mooney after two years at Duke) and two college stars in Irish and Oklahoma State slugger Nolan Schubart. Irish established himself as the best all-around offensive player in the 2025 college class this spring, slashing .364/.469/.710 and mashing 13 homers in 28 Southeastern Conference games. After his name was heard all over the top 10 in potential under-slot deal considerations, he landed at No. 19 overall with the Orioles and signed for a full-slot deal of $4.42 million.

A left-handed hitter, Irish improved his swing decisions as a junior, enabling him to do more damage at the plate. He made hard contact to all fields while handling all types of pitches and lefties as well as righties. His 20-25 homer power plays to all fields, though some scouts wonder exactly how much pop he'll have in pro ball because he produces a lot of ground balls and hit two homers in 62 games with wood bats in the Cape Cod League.

Irish entered 2025 contending for the title of best catching prospect in college baseball but spent most of the spring in right field after fracturing his right scapula after being hit by a pitch in March. There's a growing sentiment that he'd be better off maximizing his offense by sticking in the outfield, and he moves and throws well enough to get the job done in right. The Orioles did announce him as a catcher, and behind the plate, he shows the hands to become an average receiver and framer, though a long release undermines his plus arm strength a bit.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

Part of a loaded 2021 St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake) team that went 43-1 and won the Michigan Division 2 state championship, Irish was overshadowed by teammates Alex Mooney (a top-two-rounds talent who's now at Duke), Brock Porter (a potential first-rounder in 2022) and Nolan Schubart. He raised his profile on the showcase circuit during the summer, particularly at East Coast Pro, but his bat and receiving were a bit inconsistent this spring as the Eaglets went 44-0 and took the Division 1 state title. Though he's the nephew of Michigan State coach Jake Boss, he's committed to Auburn. 

Irish is more advanced than most prep receivers, a byproduct of having to handle Porter's high-octane stuff on a regular basis. He moves well for a catcher, blocks and frames pitches well and shows the leadership clubs want at his position. He has at least plus arm strength, gets rid of the ball quickly and makes accurate throws. 

Irish has more of a contact-oriented, line-drive approach at this point and works from gap to gap. With his quick left-handed swing and projectable strength, he should develop average power once he starts pulling more pitches and driving more balls in the air. He's a below-average runner but not a liability on the bases. 

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 45 | Overall: 55

Irish was part of a St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) club that won three straight championships in his three full seasons in 2019, '21 and '22. Those teams featured two players who received seven-figure bonuses (Brock Porter out of high school, Alex Mooney after two years at Duke) and two college stars in Irish and Oklahoma State slugger Nolan Schubart. Irish established himself as the best all-around offensive player in the 2025 college class this spring, slashing .364/.469/.710 and mashing 13 homers in 28 Southeastern Conference games.

A left-handed hitter, Irish improved his swing decisions as a junior, allowing him to do more damage at the plate. He made hard contact to all fields while handling all types of pitches and lefties as well as righties. His 20-25 homer power plays to all fields, though some scouts wonder exactly how much pop he'll have in pro ball because he produces a lot of groundballs and hit two homers in 62 games with wood bats in the Cape Cod League.

Irish entered 2025 contending for the title of best catching prospect in college baseball but spent most of the spring in right field after fracturing his right scapula when hit by a pitch in March. There's a growing sentiment that he'd be better off maximizing his offense by sticking in the outfield, and he moves and throws well enough to get the job done in right. Behind the plate, he shows the hands to become an average receiver and framer, though a long release undermines his plus arm strength a bit.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	C Ike Irish assigned to Baltimore Orioles Prospects.
	02/20/2026	C Ike Irish assigned to Baltimore Orioles.
	08/12/2025	C Ike Irish assigned to Delmarva Shorebirds from FCL Orioles.
	08/04/2025	FCL Orioles activated C Ike Irish.
	07/18/2025	Baltimore Orioles signed C Ike Irish.
	07/18/2025	C Ike Irish assigned to FCL Orioles.
	06/03/2025	C Ike Irish assigned to College Workout.
	01/22/2025	C Ike Irish assigned to Auburn Tigers.
	07/26/2024	C Ike Irish assigned to Cape Cod League East All-Stars.
	04/02/2024	Chatham Anglers activated C Ike Irish.
	04/02/2024	C Ike Irish assigned to Chatham Anglers.
	06/08/2023	C Ike Irish assigned to College Workout.
	06/11/2022	C Ike Irish and assigned to College Workout.
	05/19/2022	C Ike Irish, , , and assigned to High School Workout.
	08/18/2021	C Ike Irish and assigned to PG West.
	07/13/2021	PG National 2 - Gold activated C Ike Irish.