Ethan Anderson. Photo: UVA Athletics
Good news for former UVA Baseball product Ethan Anderson, who was called up to the Baltimore Orioles’ Double-A team in Chesapeake on Tuesday.
Anderson, a second-round pick by the Orioles in the 2024 MLB Draft, has been on the rise since leaving UVA.
Anderson played in only 15 games at Low-A Delmarva late in the 2024 season, before moving up the Orioles’ minor league system to High-A Aberdeen.
Anderson and fellow Cavalier Griff O’Ferrall, a first-round pick by the O’s in 2024, debuted in Aberdeen at the same time last season.
At Aberdeen, Anderson has been adjusting to playing one of the most challenging positions in baseball, catcher.
At UVA, Anderson saw limited action behind the plate, playing behind Kyle Teel, now a member of the Chicago White Sox, in 2023, and splitting time in 2024 with Jacob Ference.
This season, the Orioles have been using Anderson extensively at the catcher position, and have been impressed by his defensive skills.
Playing in an organization that has Adley Rutschman and now Samuel Basallo on the Orioles roster, Anderson has been focusing on his defensive work to better serve the Baltimore organization.
Drafted at 21, Anderson had a solid year at the plate, and he’s been one of the hottest hitters over the last few weeks for Aberdeen. For the season Anderson has a .245 batting average, three homers and 42 RBI.
For draft picks in the Orioles system, their first full season typically begins in Aberdeen, where they are facing the most advanced pitching in their careers.
To compound the problem, the High-A Park in Aberdeen is a hitter’s nightmare, with players complaining of poor lighting and a terrible batter’s eye.
Maybe explains why the Orioles are moving the High-A affiliate back to Frederick, where they severed ties in 2020.
With just four weeks left in the High-A season, O’Ferrall for now remains an IronBird.