Griff O’Ferrall and Ethan Anderson played together on the Virginia Cavaliers for the past three seasons, and in an unlikely twist, they were selected in consecutive picks by the Orioles on Sunday night in the Major League Baseball draft.
O’Ferrall, a 21-year-old shortstop, was drafted 32nd overall in the prospect promotion incentive pick, and Anderson, a 20-year-old catcher, was chosen with the 61st pick in the second round. The Orioles announced their signings on Friday morning.
Now, they’re beginning their professional careers in Sarasota without having to find someone new to bond with.
“It’s pretty crazy,” O’Ferrall said in a video conference call. “We were roommates for the past two years, definitely are very close. We were in shock when we found out we were going to the same team. We went from living together, and now we’re going to be spending more time together, so it doesn’t change much for us.”
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O’Ferrall was in the backyard at a party after he was picked. Not long afterward, he heard some of his teammates yelling that Anderson had been drafted by the Orioles as well.
“Leading up to the draft, we had talks about how crazy it would be to go to the same team, thinking that there’s 30 teams. I never thought there was a shot,” Anderson said. “Griff’s been one of the closest the last three years. I don’t know if it’s like I haven’t left UVA or this is just the next chapter, and we’re still together.”
Anderson went to high school in Virginia Beach, and went to Norfolk Tides games, where he watched All-Stars Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman play.
“It’s special to be in the same organization and be around the same people that coached them,” he said.
Anderson caught 26 games for Virginia and played first base in nine in 2024. He hit .331 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs with a .932 OPS. Anderson also drew 40 walks and struck out 32 times in 65 games. Like Rutschman, he’s a switch-hitting catcher.
“I take pride in my offensive skill set, being able to hit from both sides,” he said. “The biggest thing for me is developing the catching … I’m capable of doing it. I just want the reps and coaching to develop it.”
O’Ferrall is excited about the coaching.
“This farm system is incredible, and the big league club is doing some special things right now” O’Ferrall said. “Just being able to get our foot in the door with such a great organization, and all the good things we’ve heard about it is a dream come true. It’s definitely a great situation.”
O’Ferrall is a contract hitter. In 2024, he hit .324 with five home runs and 52 RBIs with an .821 OPS. He walked 22 times in 63 games and struck out just 24 times.
“I’m trying to bring a well-rounded player to the organization, play great defense, be a good hitter and develop some more swing-decision stuff and rely on some of my contact abilities to be a little bit more picky and specific with what I’m trying to hit,” he said.
He doesn’t see himself as a home-run hitter.
“I think it’s easy to fall into that trap,” he said. “Obviously, hitting homers is very cool. That hasn’t been a huge part of my game. I think it’s important to realize, remember I got to this point being the player that I am.
“I’m not going to try and force being something that I’m not … I think I’m going develop. Some of that stuff is going to come. I’m not going to try to get outside of something I’ve been doing my whole life.”