The Orioles opened the 2024 MLB draft Sunday night in familiar fashion, pulling from the college hitter ranks with each of their three Day 1 picks.
On Day 3, they loaded up on pitchers.
Here’s a look at every pick the Orioles made on the final day of the draft on Tuesday in rounds 11 through 20:
11th round, 339 overall: LHP Sebastian Gongora, Louisville
Baseball America: 353 | MLB Pipeline: NR | ESPN: NR
Gongora transferred to the Cardinals from Wright State ahead of the 2024 season and increased his fastball velocity from the high-80s to the mid-90s with the ability to touch 97 mph. He also added a slider last season and can occasionally mix in a curveball or changeup. He posted a 6.24 ERA in 16 starts in his lone season with Louisville.
12th round, 369 overall: C Andrew Tess, Calvary Christian HS (Fla.)
One of the youngest players in the draft class, Tess lands with the Orioles in the 12th round. Coming off a stellar senior season with Calvary Christian in which he hit .500 with seven home runs in 29 games, according to MaxPreps, the Pittsburgh commit has strong pull-side power and above-average speed with a swing that is still a work in progress.
13th round, 399 overall: RHP Brandon Downer, California Baptist University
Downer made 16 appearances and 15 starts for the Lancers last season and recorded a 4.35 ERA with 63 strikeouts. He was committed to Kansas as a transfer next season but will now likely join the Orioles as the fifth pitcher they’ve selected with their past seven picks.
14th round, 429 overall: RHP Cohen Achen, Lindsey Wilson College
Achen spent all four years of his college career at Lindsey Wilson in the NAIA. He posted a 3.66 ERA and 1.128 WHIP with 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings across 50 appearances (43 starts). Achen also pitched in the Northwoods Summer League this year and likely boosted his draft stock with a 2.93 ERA and 11.7 K/9 in eight starts.
15th round, 459 overall: RHP Carter Rustad, Missouri
Rustad made just one appearance as a senior in 2023 because of an injury, then returned to Missouri for a fifth season and posted a 6.37 ERA in 14 appearances (eight starts). The 6-4 right-hander was originally drafted in 2019 by the Milwaukee Brewers but did not sign.
16th round, 489 overall: OF Nate George, Minooka Community HS (Ill.)
Baseball America: 272 | MLB Pipeline: NR | ESPN: NR
George is a two-sport athlete out of Minooka Community High School, where he led its baseball program in hits during the regular season and also set a school record in the 100-meter dash. Originally committed to Eastern Illinois, George changed his commitment to Northwest Florida State College in June but has expressed an interest in signing with the team drafts him.
17th round, 519 overall: LHP Iziah Salinas, Cowley County Community College (Kansas)
The 6-foot, 180-pound southpaw had a 4.21 ERA across 15 appearances and 14 starts last season. He was the top-rated left-handed pitcher out of Kansas as a high schooler and is equipped with a fastball in the high 80s.
18th round, 549 overall: RHP Michael Caldon, Felician College
Caldon, listed at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, made the D2CCA All-East Region first team this season as a junior at Felician College. The right-hander recorded a 3.58 ERA and 13.0 K/9 in 75 1/3 innings. He’s also impressed in multiple stints with summer league teams over the past two years.
19th round, 579 overall: OF Braylon Whitaker, Cox Mill HS (N.C.)
Whitaker, a left-handed hitter who also pitched for his high school and is listed at 5-10 165 pounds, is committed to Wingate University. He possesses plus defense in center field and hit .560 across eight games at last summer’s WWBA tournament in Georgia, one of the top high school showcases in the country.
20th round, 609 overall: RHP Evan Yates, Cal State Fullerton
With their final pick, the Orioles selected Yates, who joins Cal State Fullerton teammate and 10th-round pick Rodriguez as the second member of this year’s Frederick Keys to land in Baltimore. Yates posted a 4.29 ERA across two seasons for Cal State Fullerton before putting up a 1.27 ERA in 11 appearances for the Keys.