O’Ferrall and Anderson talked about the dream scenario in the buildup to the draft, of the possibility that the friends could wind up in the same organization. “There’s 30 teams,” though, Anderson said. “I never thought there was a shot.”
"This young team is talented, exciting and they play the game with the same grit and enthusiasm fans can appreciate and can identify with,” MASN senior executive John McGuinness said in a statement.
The fourth-round draft pick reset himself over the course of two weeks. He worked on his mindset on the mound, narrowing his focus to what he could control, and when he returned to game action everything clicked.
Burnes becomes the fifth All-Star starting pitcher in Orioles history, and the first since Steve Stone in 1980. Jim Palmer, Milt Pappas and Jerry Walker have also started All-Star Games for Baltimore.
After taking North Carolina outfielder Vance Honeycutt with the 22nd pick of the draft, the Orioles doubled up on Virginia players: shortstop Griff O’Ferrall and catcher Ethan Anderson.