The Baltimore Orioles selected shortstop Jaiden Lo Re in the fifth round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft.
Lo Re played at Corona Del Sol High School in Arizona and was committed to Brigham Young University. However, after the Orioles selected him, he decided to forgo college in pursuit of his lifelong dream.
“My whole dream was to play professional baseball,” Lo Re told World Baseball Network during an interview on Zoom. “A big thing was that the money was going to be there. I knew I wanted to just take the chance on myself and play Major League Baseball. It’s every kid’s dream, and being able to live it out is just so special, and I think I had to take that opportunity.”
Being drafted out of high school was no fluke for Lo Re. From a young age, he has been talented, and it was only a matter of time before he started his journey through the minor leagues. From a young age, it was evident he was very talented, and he was a member of the 12U National Team. That experience is something he cherishes.
“It was definitely crazy,” Lo Re told World Baseball Network. “Being able to just represent my country was so special, and being able to wear USA across your chest is something that, if you haven’t been able to do it, you don’t really understand. I was around great talent the whole time.”
Representing the United States at a young age, it was clear that Lo Re was a special player. As a freshman in high school, he was already committed to Arizona State University. However, after reopening his recruiting, he decided on BYU. However, the relationship he built with BYU in the recruiting process made it tougher to skip college.
“Definitely made it a little harder, just because of the relationship I had with them, and the love that they showed me,” Lo Re said of BYU. “I really appreciated it, but it’s really hard to turn down a chance to go play Major League Baseball and go get to live out my dreams. I told them to, and they all respected my decision, and they were such great people about it, so I have nothing but great words for them.”
Getting to play college baseball would have been a great experience for Lo Re, but he knew what type of organization he was going to. The pedigree of talented infielders developed by the Orioles in recent years was definitely something that was on Lo Re’s mind.
“The Orioles, I mean, I talked about it with my agent, and I’ve always known them as a good-hitting organization,” Lo Re told World Baseball Network. “They’re really good at developing guys. You’re seeing the guys that they have in the big leagues right now, like (Jackson) Holliday, (Gunnar) Henderson and (Adley) Rutschman. Just being able to see them develop them into better hitters played a role.”
Lo Re still has a long way to go before taking the field at Camden Yards. However, he has already started his journey. After getting drafted, he went down to Florida to work out with the team and came back with notes on what he needed to work on before coming back in the spring. He also noted how he is open to playing any position the Orioles need him to play. That kind of versatility and willingness is all part of the type of player he is. He described himself as a gritty player who is going to work hard to make his impact on the game felt.
“If I could describe it in one word, it would have to be ‘Gamer,’” Lo Re told World Baseball Network when asked to describe himself. “I’m not the guy that you’re gonna see at a showcase that you’re going to look at and be like, ‘Oh, he’s tall. He’s got the tools.’ I don’t pass the eye test, but when I get on the field, I can win the game in more than just one way.
“I can win it with base running. I can win it with my glove. I can win it with the bat to ball. I’m just a dirtbag. That’s sort of another way to put it. I’m kind of like that teammate that you hate to play against, but if he’s on your team, you love him. I want to do anything it takes to win.”
Despite not having all of the measurables, Lo Re has put himself in a position to chase his dreams. There is no prototype to be a big leaguer, and at the end of the day, teams want players who can help them win. Lo Re has the mindset and character to develop into an even better player, and one day make his mark in the big leagues.
Photo: Oriole Park at Camden Yards. (AP Photo)
