This spring, Samuel Basallo has put his talents on display for Birdland, transforming Major League Spring Training facilities into his personal driving rang sending two towering home runs over 400 feet.
chat is this good pic.twitter.com/NTm9h1Tc67
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 10, 2025
Orioles fans have become familiar with the buzz surrounding the talented 20-year-old Dominican catcher, whose name surfaced frequently during both the trade deadline and offseason discussions as a potential trade piece Baltimore could leverage to acquire a top-tier starting pitcher.
True to his reputation, Orioles general manager Mike Elias has remained steadfast in his commitment to developing prospects. As Basallo continues to improve, his value steadily climbs, fueled by his progression through every minor league level and the physical maturity that comes with filling out his 6’4” frame.
This baseball may have gone 500 feet 😳
— MLB (@MLB) February 28, 2025
Samuel Basallo, MLB's top catching prospect, sent this baseball OVER the center field scoreboard! pic.twitter.com/2T8KbEvDYx
In my opinion, the way the Orioles manage Basallo will serve as a strong indicator of what they’ve learned from last year’s Jackson Holliday situation. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Basallo make his Major League debut before turning 21, just as Holliday did.
History in the Making
Before ever setting foot on the field, Basallo made headlines in 2021 by signing with the Orioles as an international free agent for a then-franchise record of $1.3 million.
“No, that day was incredible, you know,” Basallo said in a video profile for the team. “Knowing that one of my dreams came true.”
In the days leading up to international signing day, the Orioles weren’t on Basallo’s radar until about a week beforehand. He recalled a moment where he played in front of Koby Perez, the Orioles’ Vice President of International Scouting Operations, and went hitless in six at-bats. Perez, however, encouraged him to stay composed and focus on performing well the following day.
It all began in 2021 when he made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League, showcasing his potential with a .239 batting average and five home runs. The following year, in 2022, he stepped up to the Florida Rookie League, delivering an impressive performance by hitting .278 across 43 games, racking up six homers and 32 RBIs.
His breakout season came in 2023, where he emerged as the Most Valuable Player of the Carolina League while playing for Single-A Delmarva. Dominating at the plate, he posted a .299 batting average with 35 extra-base hits and 12 home runs across 83 games. Riding that momentum, he advanced to High-A with the Aberdeen IronBirds, showcasing his talent with a .333 batting average, eight home runs, and 24 RBIs in just 27 games.
455 FT FOR BASALLO! 💣💣💣
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) September 8, 2024
That's two for Samuel Basallo this season in Triple-A, this time belting the longest home run by a Tide this season. 💪💪💪
Yes, that cleared the centerfield part of the scoreboard lol#DefendTheHarbor pic.twitter.com/yZEwkJJEAv
To cap off his impressive year, he finished the season in Double-A with the Bowie Baysox, delivering an outstanding performance by going 7-for-15. His 2023 campaign truly solidified his status as one of the top minor league prospects. He returned to Bowie for 106 games, showcasing his skills with a .289 batting average, 16 home runs, and 55 RBIs. Wrapping up the year in Triple-A with the Norfolk Tides, he added three home runs across 21 games, further demonstrating his potential at the next level.
Where does he fit?
With Adley Rutschman anchoring the catcher position, many speculate whether Basallo’s physical attributes will keep him behind the plate at the big-league level. Having already made starts at first base in the minors, that position appears to be a strong alternative if catching doesn’t become his long-term role.
Discussions about a potential position change are likely to heat up next offseason when Ryan Mountcastle becomes a free agent. How the Orioles choose to handle that situation will probably provide insight into where they see Basallo fitting into their plans.
“It’s really an impressive combination of both hitting ability and power,” Baseball America’s Ben Baddler said in an interview with MASN. “It seems like his bat is so good that if you have to put him at first base he has the upside to not just be a regular, he has the potential to be an above average everyday player.”
I think for this season, he’s likely headed to Norfolk with the Triple-A Tides, like we’ve seen before if he continues to hit. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Orioles made room for him late in the season for a strong left handed power bat.
It will be interesting to see how the Orioles handle Basallo’s major league debut. Last season, their approach with Jackson Holliday faced a few missteps, with promotions, a demotion, and then another promotion to close out the year.
“In my opinion, I thought that we brought him (Holliday) up way too early, and I don’t know the reasoning for what the Orioles did. Brought up a 20-year-old kid that I think had just gone through his high school prom. You know, ten months prior,” Former Orioles bench coach Fredi Gonzalez told the Nothing Personal Podcast with David Samson. “ And I think we brought him too early, and Hyder I privately talked about that.”
Gonzalez praised Holliday, highlighting his exceptional mental toughness and extraordinary talent on the field. In contrast, Basallo hasn’t garnered the same level of attention as a non-roster invitee to the Spring Training squad. It remains to be seen how the organization will handle the call-up process for their next rising star.
