Coby Mayo Is Preparing for the Next Adjustment

Ever since he first entered the professional scene in 2021, Baltimore Orioles power-hitting corner infielder Coby Mayo has made a strong offensive impact wherever he went. Whether that was through hitting 25 or more home runs in back-to-back seasons or winning a Double-A MVP Award, Mayo has seemingly always been a threat in the batter’s box.

However, the transition to Major League Baseball has been the biggest challenge Mayo has faced to date. He slashed .098/.196/.098 during his first taste of the level in 2024, and while he improved in 2025, Mayo still finished with a below-league-average wRC+.

As a hitter who had spent years overwhelming minor-league pitching, the jump to the majors served as a reminder of just how steep the adjustment curve can be. With some big-league experience now under his belt, this spring has a chance to be a make-or-break moment for the 24-year-old.

That reality shaped much of how Mayo approached this offseason. Rather than simply building on the success he found while in the minor leagues, his focus shifted toward preparing for the adjustments required to succeed against the sharper pitching he’ll face in the big leagues.

Now entering camp with an understanding of what the league will attack him with, Mayo is looking to turn these lessons into legitimate progress.

Offseason Focus

After experiencing the true challenges that come with facing MLB pitching, Mayo entered this offseason with a clear goal: attack his training with the same intensity that helped him excel in the minor leagues.

Much of that work came in the gym, where Mayo emphasized pushing himself and his game to reach new heights than he’d seen in the past.

“Yeah, the focus in the offseason, I think, was just to work as hard as I could in the gym and then also to challenge myself in the cage,” Mayo said.

That extended far beyond simply getting his swings in and going about his daily routine. Instead, he structured much of his time in the cages around simulating the kinds of pitches that gave him trouble during his time in the big leagues.

Mayo used pitching machines to mirror the advanced offerings he knows he’ll continue to see from big-league arms, and to prevent himself from being too overwhelmed by the real thing.

“[Practicing] with machine work and just really tough off-speed shapes from both righties and lefties and staying consistent with that,” Mayo said.

Notably, Mayo struggled mightily against right-handers in comparison to lefties, meaning that seeing more unique shapes from this side is even more important. He posted a wRC+ of just 84 against righties, a mark that was over 30 points lower than how he performed against lefties.

For a young hitter of his caliber, becoming more comfortable when facing these tough pitches can be the difference between surviving and thriving at the major-league level. With the raw tools already clearly there, this could be one of the last remaining keys to becoming one of the better young hitters in the league.

While he worked quite hard to refine his craft, maintaining the work-life balance of the MLB offseason was another important focus for him over the winter.

“And staying healthy is always number one. Spending time with family and working out, making sure I’m enjoying time away.”

With the MLB season being a grueling, 162-game race to the finish line, maintaining his physical and mental health is arguably just as important as his work in the cages. This way, he’ll be far more prepared for returning to a full workload.

Building Off His September Success and Newfound Confidence

While refining his swing and maintaining his health were top priorities, Mayo also wanted to carry the momentum he built late last year into the new season.

After struggling early against big-league pitching in 2025, Mayo began to turn things around in September, which completely transformed his confidence.

In 24 games during September, Mayo slashed .301/.393/.548 with a 165 wRC+ and five home runs. Also, he noticeably cut back on strikeouts during this period as well, which was a pretty sizable key to his success.

“I think just continuing to stay on my work and hopefully continue where I left off in September,” Mayo said. “Just keep that mindset up and the confidence that I had rolling in from last year.”

As a young slugger trying to find his footing and establish himself, that confidence can be just as important as any mechanical adjustment he made over the winter. Entering camp with sharpened tools and being in a better headspace gives him the best chance to translate his offseason work into success during the regular season.

Spring Training Buzz

With the offseason now in the past, Mayo has shifted his attention back to performing on the field and being present with his teammates. With the Orioles being an active team during the winter, the energy around the team is palpable.

“Yeah, it’s been really good. I think the group we have this year’s been really good and the coaching staff’s been awesome,” Mayo said.

The biggest splash the Orioles made this winter was inking Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million deal that shocked the baseball world in its entirety. However, they also brought in Taylor Ward, Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt, and more.

These many new additions to the roster have added an extra layer of excitement, injecting morale and a sense of competition that Mayo says has been motivating.

“Just with some new players, [they] can add a new morale to the team, and I’m really excited to get going this year,” he added.

So far this spring, Mayo’s adjustments have looked to have a significant positive impact on his game. Through his first six games, he’s slashing .500/.438/.643 with no strikeouts while posting a 159 wRC+.

While this is far from proof that Mayo may finally be on the cusp of breaking out and becoming the hitter he was once expected to be, this is certainly a good start. With Mayo making sure to emphasize the importance of his newfound confidence from September, reinforcing this confidence with a fantastic showing in spring training may add another layer to this as well.

The path to becoming an established big leaguer is far from a linear journey, but the adjustments he made this offseason are a big step in the right direction for the former top prospect. Spring training offers the first real test as to whether or not a player’s offseason work will impact his game, and although it’s early, it seems like Mayo is in a great spot heading into the regular season.