Prime prospect Coby Mayo is becoming a member of the Orioles, reviews Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (X hyperlink). The 22-year-old can be making his MLB debut. Mayo shouldn’t be but on the 40-man roster however the O’s have a gap, so that they’ll solely must make a corresponding energetic roster transaction.
Baltimore took Mayo out of highschool within the fourth spherical of the truncated 2020 draft. He signed for an above slot $1.75MM bonus and has ripped by way of minor league pitching at each degree. The 6’5″, 230-pound nook infielder had pushed his method in direction of the highest of a loaded O’s system by the beginning of the 2022 marketing campaign. He had good however not elite numbers as a 20-year-old between Excessive-A and Double-A that season.
A monster displaying within the higher minors final 12 months vaulted Mayo to the highest of the general league prospect rankings. He hit .307/.424/.603 with 17 homers in 78 video games for Double-A Bowie. The O’s bumped him to Triple-A Norfolk late final season. Mayo responded with a superb .267/.393/.512 slash throughout 62 contests.
Mayo entered the 12 months as a prime 30 minor league expertise within the eyes of most evaluators. He has completed all he can to bolster that acclaim with one other glorious 12 months in Norfolk. Mayo has popped 20 homers over 335 plate appearances. He’s hitting .294/.370/.581 with a robust 10.1% stroll charge. Whereas his 24.5% strikeout proportion is a bit increased than common, it’s not a significant concern for among the best power-hitting prospects within the league.
The righty-hitting Mayo is tied for fourth within the Worldwide League in residence runs. Amongst 83 hitters with 300+ plate appearances, he leads the league in slugging proportion. Mayo is tenth amongst that group in common and twenty fifth in on-base proportion regardless of being one of many league’s youngest hitters.
Mayo ranks as the game’s #12 prospect at Baseball America and FanGraphs. Keith Legislation of the Athletic ranked Mayo 18th on his current replace of the game’s prime 60 prospects. All three shops have him as both the #2 or #3 participant within the Baltimore system. He’s behind Jackson Holliday and alongside catcher Samuel Basallo on the prime of a company that’s nonetheless loaded with high-end younger expertise.
BA and FanGraphs every credit score Mayo with 70-grade energy (plus-plus) on the 20-80 scouting scale. FanGraphs writes that Mayo could possibly be inclined to strikeouts early in his MLB profession, however evaluators usually really feel he shouldn’t have any drawback attending to his influence energy whereas drawing loads of walks.
Mayo’s protection is extra of a query. He has performed solely on the nook infield in his minor league profession. The overwhelming majority of that have has come at third base. Most scouting reviews peg him as a fringe-average defender there regardless of glorious arm energy. FanGraphs’ report suggests Mayo could also be finest suited shifting off the place to proper discipline, however the O’s haven’t given him any outfield work within the minors.
He’ll break into the majors as a 3rd baseman. Baltimore misplaced Jordan Westburg to a damaged hand yesterday. The O’s have but to offer a transparent timeline on the All-Star’s return, but he’s actually in for a prolonged absence. Baltimore performed Ramón Urías on the scorching nook right this moment. With Urías hitting a league common .244/.318/.381 in 195 plate appearances, they’ll flip to Mayo within the hope that the teen gives above-average offense proper out of the gate.
That’s no assure for any prospect, as Holliday’s struggles after his first large league name demonstrated early within the season. But there’s nothing extra for Mayo to show within the minors, as he now owns a .283/.380/.552 slash with 36 doubles and 32 homers in 602 profession Triple-A plate appearances (the equal of 1 full season). Mayo would in all probability have gotten a glance by now if he have been in most different organizations. The O’s have such a powerful assortment of infielders that they may afford to attend for him to comprehensively dominate minor league pitching.
Baltimore followers can dream on a future infield comprising Mayo, Holliday, Gunnar Henderson and Westburg from proper to left. For now, Mayo will stick on the scorching nook with Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O’Hearn persevering with to share first base and designated hitter. Urías ought to kick right into a utility function which may bump current commerce pickup Livan Soto to Norfolk.
Barring a herculean begin to his MLB profession that earns him a prime two end in Rookie of the 12 months balloting, Mayo won’t get a full service 12 months this season. The O’s management him by way of not less than the 2030 marketing campaign; he received’t attain arbitration till the 2027-28 offseason. If Baltimore choices him again to the minors at any level, that would delay his path to arbitration and free company.
Picture courtesy of USA At present Sports activities.
