It isn't unheard of for high picks in the same Draft class to mimic each other's careers. They start at the same level, are often promoted together, and in some cases, reach The Show in the same year.
And for two of the Orioles' top three selections in the 2025 Draft, the parallels go much deeper.
On Tuesday, Ike Irish and Wehiwa Aloy teed off on back-to-back big flies in High-A Frederick's 10-2 victory over Rome at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. It marked the fifth time the duo has homered in the same game this season, and was also part of the second multihomer performance of Aloy's career.
"I get protection," Aloy said of hitting behind Irish in the lineup. "They pitch to me more than they pitch to him."
COMPLETE ORIOLES PROSPECT COVERAGE
Former Southeastern Conference rivals, Irish and Aloy were selected 12 picks apart (19th and 31st respectively) last July. So far this season, the duo has occupied the same lineup in 67 contests. Over that span, they have not only left the yard in the same game five times, but they have also belted back-to-back homers on three occasions.
"[We're] just trying to outdo each other, I guess," Aloy said.
If anyone's keeping track, Aloy "outdid" his teammate on Tuesday. This particular home run collaboration was the second iteration in which the Orioles' No. 6 prospect has gone yard more than once in a game while also going back-to-back with Irish. In the Majors this season, White Sox sluggers Colson Montgomery and Munetaka Murakami have left the yard in the same game the most times, belting roundtrippers eight times.
Aloy's first wallop of the night came in the fifth inning. With a single already under his belt in the previous frame, the 22-year-old hammered a two-run clout on an up-and-in fastball from right-hander Cade Kuehler (Braves).
"It's just reacting," Aloy said. "Just adjusting to the pitches. I mean he threw a fastball up and in. I just kind of reacted and turned, and it gladly went over the fence."
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While Auburn product Irish provided protection for Aloy in the fifth, the former Razorback didn't seem to need any in the eighth. In an 0-1 count with Aloy on deck, left-hander Riley Frey grooved a heater that MLB's No. 79 prospect swatted high off the batters' eye for his 16th homer of the year.
A few pitches later, Aloy capped his night with his second jack of the contest and 15th of the year. He finished the night 3-for-5 with three RBIs, raising his slash line to .298/.369/.506 in his first professional season.
"Just trying to do damage and hit balls hard," the shortstop said. "Our hitting coach over here, Jake Ratz, does a pretty good job on reports and what the guy has and what he throws in certain counts."
Both Aloy and Irish have wreaked havoc on pitchers this month. Irish's long ball was his fifth in 12 July games. He went 2-for-5 with a double in the fourth. The performance brought his season OPS to .906 -- fifth-best in the system -- and upped his July slash line to .354/.365/.750. Aloy's three-hit night was his eighth multihit effort in 14 games.
Between their time as opponents in college and now as teammates in the Minors, Aloy has seen Irish punish pitchers on plenty of occasions. When asked for his scouting report on the Orioles' No. 2 prospect, he was concise.
"Just don't give him anything good to hit or else it's going to have damage written all over it," Aloy said.
That advice might not have been taken to heart on Tuesday.