Slater de Brun: Everything We Know About the Viral Star Taking Social Media by Storm

BALTIMORE—Slater de Brun’s name came off the board quickly on Day 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft, as the Baltimore Orioles used the 37th overall pick (Competitive Balance Round A) to grab the Summit High School center-fielder and Vanderbilt commit who has been climbing draft boards all spring. The 18-year-old Oregon native combines elite wheels with surprising pop from his compact 5-foot-10 frame. MLB Pipeline grades him 55 hit, 60 field and 65 run and compares his tool set to two-time All-Star Corbin Carroll. De Brun describes his own game in three words—“fast, explosive and aggressive”—a mantra that helped him swipe 22 bases while batting .370 with 26 RBIs during Summit’s state-title season. Beyond the diamond, the outfielder has built a viral following as “Lil Slayyy,” producing and singing country-pop tracks that regularly surface on TikTok and Instagram. De Brun says the creative outlet makes him a better teammate: “Making music is pretty vulnerable—that helps people connect with me.” What the Orioles are getting • Top-of-the-order speed that profiles in spacious Camden Yards. • Plus center-field instincts; advanced route-running offsets any questions about arm strength. • A left-handed contact bat that projects to grow into gap power, aided by a lightning-quick first step out of the box. Sign-or-school decision Baltimore’s bonus slot at No. 37 is roughly $2.4 million. The franchise hopes that figure will be enough to steer de Brun away from Vanderbilt, where he was expected to headline Tim Corbin’s 2026 freshman class. The Orioles successfully lured recent prep stars Jackson Holliday and Enrique Bradfield Jr. with over-slot bonuses; industry insiders expect a similar approach with de Brun. Fit with Baltimore Executive VP/GM Mike Elias has stockpiled athletic up-the-middle talent since taking over in 2019. De Brun joins an outfield pipeline that already features Holliday, Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad, but his elite speed gives him a clear lane as Baltimore’s potential future center fielder. Next steps De Brun and family will meet with Baltimore officials this week in Bend, Oregon. Should he sign, the organization plans to start him at its Florida Complex League affiliate before a potential late-season bump to Low-A Delmarva. Whether patrolling center field or dropping his next country single, Slater de Brun—aka Lil Slayyy—has already proven he can make noise on any stage. Orioles fans should get used to hearing the name, and the beat, for years to come.