With the 32nd pick in the 2024 Draft, the @Orioles select @UVABaseball shortstop Griff O'Ferrall, No. 38 on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list.
Watch LIVE: https://t.co/eLMJAXDe7Z
.@spidadmitchell in 2019: “My mom used to drive me all over New York City and New Jersey on the weekends to play in AAU tournaments. Her and my sister really sacrificed everything, and I feel so bad now because 75% of the time I’d be asleep in the backseat, and then I’d wake up in the parking lot of a gym in the Bronx or in Brooklyn or somewhere, ready to play. The crazy part is that she couldn’t have cared less about basketball. And if you think I’m exaggerating, then I have a story for you.
The first time I dunked was probably the greatest day of my life. It was the summer before eighth grade. I was over in Harlem at the Crack Is Wack Playground. We were in the layup line before the game, and it just happened. Me and my friends were going crazy. So I ran out to the parking lot after the game, and my mom was riding bikes or something with my sister, and I said, ‘Mom! You’re not going to believe it. I dunked.’
Of course, she was like, ‘Wow, that’s amazing, sweetheart. That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you.’
Then we start driving back home, and we’re on the highway and she says, ‘Can I ask a dumb question? What exactly makes it a dunk, sweetheart?’
I had to explain it to her. Seriously. This was six years into me playing basketball, driving me all around the East Coast for games. That’s how you know she really did it for me, you know? She was not one of these crazy AAU parents.
I didn’t understand how much she was sacrificing for us. I’ll never forget the time I came back out to the car one day to grab something that I forgot, and I saw her sitting there in tears, all by herself. She never wanted us to see her stressed. I guess when things got overwhelming, she’d go out to the car to cry … just to get it all out. Then she’d come back inside like nothing was wrong.
We had no idea, but at the time she was always worried about how she was going to pay the rent that month, how she was going to buy us clothes, how she was going to pay for gas. She shielded us from all that. Her whole vision was to do whatever it took just to get us to graduate from Country Day. Because that’s something they could never take away from us.” https://t.co/AWnuI0aqze
SS Griff O'Ferrall (@UVABaseball) is one of the best pure hitters in this year's Draft class. Had an excellent freshman year in 2022 (.308/.406/.366), but exploded in 2023 to the tune of a .396/.453/.495 slash line with 20 2B, 42 RBI, and 16 SB. Was also a top performer for Team USA, hitting .436 with 6 XBH.
O'Ferrall has been an every day player and starting SS for the 'Hoos from the moment he stepped on campus. Has a beautiful swing from the right side. Takes a direct path to the baseball, extends through it beautifully, and has present bat speed.
Uses the entire field, peppers all parts of the yard with line drives. Extremely advanced feel for the barrel with a 91% IZ contact rate. Hit tool is a strong 60. No issues whatsoever with velocity; slashed an absurd .552/.606/.724 against FB 93+.
Sure-handed defender at SS with quick feet and good instincts, but could eventually wind up at 2B where he profiles as an above average defender.
Also an above average runner and effective base stealer. O'Ferrall has Top-25 overall upside and figures to hit his way to the big leagues.
An All-American, @RawlingsSports Gold Glove Finalist and my selection for the 2023 Johnny Bench Awards’ Top College Baseball Catcher: KYLE TEEL, @UVABaseball
"I hope I could influence younger kids kind of staying down that path."
The son of a Navy SEAL, @UVABaseball standout Ethan Anderson is giving 100% of his NIL money to the @NavySEALfnd, giving back to those who gave and who supported his family: https://t.co/t8LSjdmYw6