Orioles Ink Entire 2021 Draft Class

When Day 3 of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft concluded and the dust settled, 612 players had been selected in total, including 21 by the Baltimore Orioles. While much of the excitement surrounding the Draft occurs when players hear their names called, it’s what goes on behind the scenes in the days and weeks after that truly defines a team’s success.

For the Orioles Baseball Operations team led by Executive Vice President and Mike Elias, they wasted no time in signing each of their 21 selections, marking the official start of their professional careers in Birdland.

The first domino to fall was infielder Connor Norby, a second-round selection from East Carolina University, who signed with the Orioles less than a week after the Draft began.

One day later, Sam Houston State University outfielder Colton Cowser, the fifth overall selection in the Draft, put pen to paper in Baltimore.

While they were both in Charm City, Cowser and Norby made a visit to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, where they received a warm welcome from the Birdland faithful.

While the two took batting practice and spent some time with the Major League team, Cowser was mic’d up, offering Orioles fans a glimpse into the No. 5 overall selection’s personality.

Cowser got to chat with 2019 Most Valuable Oriole and the 2021 Home Run Derby runner-up Trey Mancini as well as Orioles Legend and Hall of Famer Jim Palmer. The native Texan also spent time cracking jokes with Norby and fiercely defending his beloved Whataburger from fellow 2021 Draft selection outfielder John Rhodes, a third-round pick from the University of Kentucky who was also in attendance at the game, but who prefers In-N-Out Burger.

The Orioles signed fourth-round outfielder Donta’ Williams from the University of Arizona on July 20 before announcing a flurry of signings – 13 in total, including catcher Creed Willems, Baltimore’s lone selection from the high school ranks – on July 23, leaving just five players unsigned.

Over the next several days, the Orioles signed each of the five remaining players, culminating with the signing of right-handed pitcher Daniel Lloyd, a 14th-round pick from the University of South Carolina, on July 27.

With all 21 selections signed, the Orioles Player Development team will take over, guiding the next generation of Orioles through the minor league ranks and one day soon, to Camden Yards.