Former Summit High School baseball standout Slater de Brun has been traded from the Baltimore Orioles to the Tampa Bay Rays in a significant inter-division trade. The announcement, reported by ESPN on December 19, 2025, reveals that de Brun, selected by the Orioles as the 37th overall pick in the July MLB draft, will join a package deal that includes several other players.
In addition to de Brun, the trade involves catcher Caden Bodine, pitcher Michael Forret, and outfielder Austin Overn. In return, the Rays will send right-handed pitcher Shane Baz to Baltimore, further enhancing the competitiveness of both teams within the division.
De Brun made headlines during his senior year at Summit High by leading his team to the Class 5A state title and showcasing his skills on a national level. The 5-foot-10-inch outfielder finished his final high school season with an impressive batting average of .370, contributing 26 runs batted in, scoring 35 runs, and stealing 22 bases while playing center field. His performance earned him the title of Intermountain Conference Player of the Year and a place on the Class 5A first-team all-state roster.
Despite a commitment to play collegiate baseball at Vanderbilt University, de Brun chose to sign with the Orioles after his draft selection. He has now positioned himself as one of the most promising talents from Central Oregon, marking a significant milestone as the highest-drafted player from the region since Jacoby Ellsbury was picked by the Boston Red Sox in 2005.
Last summer, de Brun also earned a spot on the USA Baseball National Team, further establishing his reputation as a standout player in the sport. The upcoming season presents a new chapter in his career as he transitions to the Tampa Bay Rays, where he will aim to make an immediate impact in Major League Baseball.