Orioles manager reacts to Samuel Basallo's dugout outburst

Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Orioles manager reacts to Samuel Basallo's dugout outburst

By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Aug 30, 2026 9:25 AM ET

The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Athletics on Saturday, but catcher Samuel Basallo made plenty of headlines for other reasons.

The Orioles' 22-year-old catcher went 0-for-4 at the plate and left the game in the eighth inning with a hand injury. In the sixth inning, Basallo was frustrated after grounding out and was seen slamming his helmet and hitting himself in the face.

Samuel Basallo was not pleased with himself after grounding out to begin the sixth inning. This, from the MASN broadcast pic.twitter.com/qx0cIKdi1L
— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) August 30, 2026

After the game, Orioles manager Craig Albernaz reacted to Basallo's outburst in the dugout.

"He's a young player developing in front of our eyes at the big league level, and he's a special talent. And he gets frustrated," Albernaz said, via Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. "That's something he's working through, and it's also one of those things where everyone in that clubhouse has to rally around him."

Earlier in the game, Basallo popped out and threw his bat to the ground in frustration.

A frustrated Samuel Basallo slams his bat into the dirt after flying out in a prime RBI opportunity. Orioles put two men on with nobody out and didn't score.

: @Orioles pic.twitter.com/gn3WL4ce6j
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) August 30, 2026

Basallo eventful night ended early when he was removed after he was hit in the hand by a pitch in the dirt.

Yohel Pozo is replacing Samuel Basallo behind the plate for the bottom of the eighth.

In the seventh inning, Basallo blocked a pitch with his bare right hand and was checked on by a trainer for a few minutes. He stayed in, and he batted in the top of the eighth. But now out
— Andy Kostka (@afkostka) August 30, 2026

In the end, it was a very rough night for Basallo, and now the Orioles will see what the results show regarding his hand.

Matt Wadleigh

Matt Wadleigh is based in California and born and raised in the San Diego area. He studied print journalism at Fresno State for college and got to watch Paul George, Derek Carr and Davante Adams play in a Bulldogs uniform. His work has been featured at ClutchPoints, Sportscasting, Sporting News, and various USA Today sites, including UCLA Wire, where he was the first managing editor

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