Austin Hays

Position: OF
Born: 07/05/95
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 195
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Drafted in the third round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft (BAL).

Most Recent Stats at Time of Debut
Hitting .329 with 32 home runs and 95 RBIs in 128 games between Frederick (High A) and Bowie (Double-A) with 32 doubles, 81 runs scored and 172 hits to go with a .365 OBA and .593 SLG.

Info & MLB Debut Date
Contract purchased from Bowie on September 5 when rosters expanded.
MLB Debut Date: 09/07/17

Debut Details
September 7, in a 9-1 loss to the Yankees. Part of a massive defensive switch in the ninth inning, he came in to play right field for starter Seth Smith and went 0-for-1. Facing right-handed reliever Ben Heller with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and no one on, he grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

Player Notes
The Jacksonville University product ranked among the minor league leaders in several categories in 2017, finishing third in the minors in home runs, third in the minors in hits, tied for eighth in the minors in RBIs and sixth in the minors in slugging. And he did that all in his first full season as a pro. At Aberdeen (Short-Season A) in his 2016 debut he'd batted .336 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in just 38 games for a .514 SLG, missing some time with a sprained wrist. Ranked by Baseball America as the system's best athlete, he was also lauded as the Orioles' best pure hitter, best power hitter, best defensive infielder and best infield arm in their 2016 draft class. He hits to all fields with power without sacrificing average.