Overn using multi-sport background to fuel him in Minors

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ABERDEEN, Md. -- During an era in which more kids specialize in one youth sport, Austin Overn is a true multi-sport throwback. The 22-year-old Orioles outfield prospect has done it all.

Born in Orange, Calif., Overn played football, basketball, baseball and lacrosse while growing up. He played the first three at Foothill High School in Palo Cedro, while also deciding to participate in track and field during baseball season as a senior in 2022.

“That was kind of fun, having to blend those two together,” Overn said.

Then, Overn went to the University of Southern California to play baseball. His multi-sport career was over ... until it wasn’t.

In the fall of 2022, Overn was a walk-on for the Trojans’ football team. As a 6-foot, 170-pound wide receiver, he never got into a game. But he still enjoyed being around the program and head coach Lincoln Riley, believing it helped him in his baseball career as well.

“That mental toughness I took, still to this day, is something that just changed my whole perspective of sports,” Overn said. “Fall camp in football was something -- basically 5 a.m. until 11 p.m., 10 p.m., every day for 20 days, I think, straight. That was just something that wears and tears on you. Now, everything else seems like a piece of cake.”

Another cool experience at USC? Catching passes in practice from Caleb Williams, the current starting quarterback for the NFL’s Chicago Bears who won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore during Overn’s lone season on the team.

“What he shows on the NFL field is nothing compared to what I saw in practice,” Overn said. “He was just slinging the ball 60, 70 yards like it’s nothing.”

Everything Overn has done to this point in his life has helped make him who he is today -- Baltimore’s No. 30 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) playing for High-A Aberdeen in his first full professional season after getting selected in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft.

Overn was set up for success with the Trojans. His head coach was Andy Stankiewicz -- who had a seven-year big league career for the Yankees, Astros, Expos and D-backs from 1992-98. Overn credits the 60-year-old for teaching the importance of hustle and the “little things” that make a good baseball player.

After playing 15 games for Single-A Delmarva and another six for High-A Aberdeen last year, Overn is getting an extended run with the IronBirds in 2025. He’s batting .234 with six doubles, three triples, four home runs and 16 RBIs through 56 games, and he has used his 75-grade speed to steal 27 bases.

Although Overn hasn’t been satisfied with his offensive performance in the South Atlantic League -- a place where many top O’s hitting prospects have struggled in recent years -- his slash line has been trending in the right direction:

April: .186/.279/.373 in 16 games
May: .253/.356/.347 in 24 games
June: .260/.431/.380 in 16 games

Overn has also grown close to the other members of the Orioles’ 2024 Draft class playing at Aberdeen -- fellow outfielder Vance Honeycutt (O’s No. 4 prospect, first-rounder), infielder Griff O’Ferrall (O’s No. 6, No. 32 overall pick) and catcher Ethan Anderson (O’s No. 18, second-rounder).

“He’s always keeping it light. He’s a really athletic player,” Honeycutt said of Overn, who has been his roommate this season. “I think what makes him dynamic is he’s got a lot of speed, but he can also hurt you with some power, too. He’s very talented, and it’s been a pleasure to play alongside him for these last few months.”

With the second half of the High-A season now underway, Overn is hoping to cut down on strikeouts (63 in 224 plate appearances so far) and make better swing decisions. He also hopes to do more damage against fastballs, as he feels like he’s been hitting offspeed pitches much better than heaters to this point.

If Overn continues on this trajectory, though, a promotion to Double-A Chesapeake could be coming as well later this summer.

“That would be awesome,” Overn said. “I don’t have a choice in it, don’t have a say, but for the most part, yeah, it would be awesome to get promoted. Climbing as fast as you can is all you can ask for, but I feel like there’s a plan for everything, and I’m just going to come out here, do my best and see what happens.”