Latest news with #IkeIrish
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Auburn star Ike Irish signs deal with Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles wasted little time agreeing to terms with its first round selection. Friday, Jim Callis of reported that the Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with former Auburn star Ike Irish. Irish signed with the Orioles organization for a signing bonus of $4.4M, which nearly matches the slot value for the No. 19 overall selection. Irish will now begin his professional career after three wonderful years at Auburn, where he improved with every year. He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2023 by starting all 58 games and recording 50 RBI and a .361 batting average. He served as the Tigers' primary designated hitter as a freshman, but he also made 11 starts at first base and one start at catcher. His amazing rookie campaign ended with four Freshman All-America nods and a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team. Irish showcased more power in his sophomore and junior seasons by combining to hit 33 home runs and slugging over .627 in both seasons. His final season at Auburn saw him log 19 home runs, 58 RBI, and a .364 batting average. Irish was a versatile player at Auburn, so how will he fit in within the Orioles' organization? Nick Ziegler of the Baltimore Orioles on Sports Illustrated suggests that Irish could become a full-time outfielder due to the depth the organization has at catcher. No matter where he ends up, expect Irish to make a quick impact within the organization. Irish is the 10th Auburn Tiger to be drafted by the Orioles, joining the likes of Gregg Olson, Chase Allsup, and Trace Bright. He also joined the likes of Auburn legends that include Casey Mize, Frank Thomas, and Josh Donaldson by being the 10th Tiger to be drafted in the first round of the MLB draft. Irish is the Tigers first first round selection since Casey Mize went No. 1 overall in 2018 to the Detroit Tigers, and is the fifth player in Auburn history to be selected within the first 20 picks of the draft. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: MLB draft 2025: Orioles agree to terms with first round pick Ike Irish
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox Predicted to Replace Jarren Duran With Power Bat After Trade Rumors
Red Sox Predicted to Replace Jarren Duran With Power Bat After Trade Rumors originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Trade rumors have been flying about Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran. They have only ramped up since Rafael Devers was dealt to the San Francisco Giant, as the organization now appears to be heading towards a youth movement at the MLB Trade Deadline. Advertisement According to Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, the Red Sox may have their replacement for Duran waiting in the draft at the 15th overall spot. That player? Auburn University's Ike Irish. Irish is a powerful left-handed bat who has proven ability at the plate against top-tier collegiate pitching in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He stands 6'2", weighing 201 lbs. The junior out of Hudsonville, Michigan is the highest projected outfielder and catcher among both high school and collegiate prospects in Mayo and Callis' mock draft. "Boston can stick Irish in the outfield and let his athleticism and bat play," Callis and Mayo wrote. Auburn Tigers' Ike Irish (18) celebrates after hitting a double against the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils during the NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala., on Friday May 30, Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images With 24 doubles in his freshman year, 14 home runs in his sophomore season and then 19 home runs in his junior campaign, Irish has the power and an approach at the plate that should translate well to the professional level. Advertisement His career batting average is .350, with a .435 on-base percentage. In 2024 he slugged a monster .710, with progression towards that number after each of his first two seasons. currently has Irish ranked as the 21st overall prospect in the draft, but once the College World Series concludes the rankings could be updated. The Red Sox could use a more polished bat out of the draft, and the college prospect could fill a need at a corner outfield position. The 2025 MLB Draft is being held on July 13 and 14. Related: Former Red Sox Star Xander Bogaerts Faces Backlash Amid Struggles This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
20-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn's Ike Irish earns first-team All-America honors from Baseball America
Ike Irish earns another All-American nod, this time from Baseball America Ike Irish had a season to remember in 2025, and it is being honored with another All-American nod. Baseball America included Irish on its first team All-American squad, which is his third of the season. He was previously honored by Perfect Game and the American Baseball Coaches Association for his amazing season that saw him lead the team in seven statistical categories. Irish is also a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, which is awarded to the best player in college baseball, as well as the Golden Spikes Award, which goes to the best amateur player in the United States. Irish experienced the best season of his career during the 2025 season. He led the team in seven categories including average (.364), on-base percentage (.469), slugging percentage (.710), runs (65), hits (78), home runs (19) and total bases (152). He recorded one fewer RBI than Cooper McMurray (58) for the team lead, and he finished third in stolen bases behind Bristol Carter (14) and Cade Belyeu (12). In addition to his team-leading stats, he set career-highs in several areas such as runs, total bases, home runs, walks, hit by pitch, stolen bases, batting average, and slugging percentage. The status of Irish's return is questionable. Irish, a junior, is receiving first-round projections from major mock drafts including those from The Athletic and USA TODAY. If he were to elect to depart, he will leave Auburn with 39 home runs, 48 doubles, 19 stolen bases, and a batting average of .350. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
USA Today
15-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The Athletic projects where Auburn's Ike Irish will land in 2025 MLB draft
The Athletic projects where Auburn's Ike Irish will land in 2025 MLB draft Irish's draft stock continues to trend upward. The draft stock of Auburn iron man Ike Irish continues to rise as The Athletic has given him his highest projection yet. Keith Law of The Athletic placed Irish in the top 10 of his latest MLB mock draft, released Thursday, pairing him with the Cincinnati Reds with the No. 9 overall pick. Irish is primarily a catcher, but he played several other positions including first base, left field, and right field. Many clubs see Irish as just a catcher, but Law feels that franchises are coming around to the idea of drafting Irish as a slugging outfielder. Irish is one of two names who've really seemed to move up over the last month or so, as teams have become more comfortable with the idea of just taking Irish — who has only caught a couple of games since he missed two weeks in March with a fractured scapula — as an outfielder and letting him go rake. I would bet more on the Reds going with a college player than a high school one, and could see them on Kyson Witherspoon, Wehiwa Aloy or maybe Tyler Bremner. Irish enjoyed his best season in an Auburn uniform this season by hitting .364 with 19 home runs, 58 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. He slugged .710 and hit .317 when putting balls in play. In 214 at bats, Irish struck out 14.3% of the time and walked 12.8% of the time, and logged 34 extra-base hits. Cincinnati is the second National League Central club tied to Irish via mock draft. Earlier this week, USA TODAY Sports paired Irish with the Milwaukee Brewers at No. 20 overall. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USA TODAY Sports pairs Ike Irish with National League Central squad in latest mock draft
USA TODAY Sports pairs Ike Irish with National League Central squad in latest mock draft Could Ike Irish's first-round dreams become a reality this summer? Ike Irish has had a phenomenal college career at Auburn. However, Tiger fans more than likely watched his final game in orange and blue last weekend as Auburn fell to Coastal Carolina in the Auburn Super Regional at Plainsman Park. Several outlets project the Tigers' slugger to be taken in the first round of the MLB First Year Player Draft next month, including USA TODAY Sports. In the latest mock draft from Gabe Lacques of USA TODAY Sports, the Milwaukee Brewers are projected to take Irish with the No. 20 overall pick. Lacques feels that Irish will be a good fit in the organization if the Brewers plan to move Irish to catcher full time. Another club that tends to lean college bat, the Brewers get a nice piece in Irish, whose .364, 19-homer platform season looks even better if he sticks at catcher professionally. But Irish caught just 12 games for the Tigers this year, spending 45 games in the outfield. Irish was known to play multiple positions for the Tigers during his career. A primary catcher, Irish has also played first base, left field, right field, and designated hitter. In 2025, he made 40 starts in right field, 10 starts at catcher, and four starts in left field. Irish was moved primarily to create a place in the lineup for Chase Fralick, who hit .335 this season. However, Irish is still considered a quality catcher, and his willingness to move around the field to ensure the best players are on the field and in the batting lineup should be noted by Major League Baseball General Managers. Irish has hit .350 with 39 home runs and 167 RBI over three seasons at Auburn, and hit career-high milestones in home runs (19), RBI (59), and batting average (.364) during his junior season in 2025. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
