Orioles To Promote Top Prospect Samuel Basallo for MLB Debut

In 76 games at the Triple-A level this season, Basallo recorded 23 home runs with 67 RBI and 49 runs scored. Just Baseball’s No. 6 prospect, who just turned 21 a few days ago, hit .270 with a .966 OPS and had nothing left to prove in the minor leagues. His 151 wRC+ is the fourth-highest in the International League down in Triple-A and it’d be top 10 in the majors amongst hitters with a minimum of 300 plate appearances.

Basallo is likely going to enter a time-share between catcher, first base, and designated hitter down the stretch. He isn’t particularly great at any spot on defense, but the Orioles could use his bat in the lineup, even if it means splitting time with Adley Rutschman, Coby Mayo, and Ryan Mountcastle for the next month-plus.

Samuel Basallo Scouting Report

For more on Basallo and what his impressive bat will bring to the table for the Orioles, check out Aram’s scouting report on Baltimore’s catcher of the future:

6. Samuel Basallo – C,1B – Baltimore Orioles

Height/Weight: 6’1″, 235 | Bat/Throw: L/R | IFA: $1.3M – 2021 (BAL) | ETA: 2025

Ridiculous power potential for a teenager and production at the lower levels have Basallo rising quickly despite evaluators not being sure where he long-term defensive home may be. He is well on his way to becoming an offensive monster.

Offense

Starting with his bat rested on his shoulder, Basallo features a smooth, rhythmic load to get his hands slotted and sink into his back hip. Already built like a freight train, Basallo produces plus exit velocities power to all fields. He has reached exit velocities as high as 115 mph prior to his 20th birthday and while there may not be a ton of projection in his frame, he will almost surely get stronger as he develops.

Basallo is an aggressive hitter with a fair amount of in-zone whiff, but he has kept his strikeout rate at a palatable rate thanks to his ability to make contact on pitches outside of the zone. He shows some adjustability in the box with relatively simple moves, providing optimism for an average hit tool. Basallo already does a good job of getting into his power in games, especially to his pull side.

That said, there’s even more game power in the tank for Basallo as he could still cut down on the ground ball rate some and improve his swing decisions. Handling aggressive assignments well, Basallo tore through High-A and Double-A as a teenager while posting strong numbers left on left. The biggest question for Basallo will be whether his chase rate north of 30% holds him back at the highest level, but his ability to do damage in seemingly every pitch location and track record of hitting as one of the youngest players at each stop, give him huge offensive upside.

Defense/Speed

A plus throwing arm is the leading defensive tool for Basallo who may be a candidate to move from behind the dish. He moves well enough to continue to get looks at catcher, but his blocking and receiving has a ways to go with the latter particularly standing out as a weakness. His catch and throw skills are strong, gunning down around 30% of attempted base stealers as a pro with impressive pop times. Basallo’s defense may ultimately be fringy, but as long as he is not a liability, his bat will justify several starts per week behind the dish with reps at first base mixed in, which the Orioles have made a point to get him more experience at.

Outlook

If Basallo’s defense can inch closer to big league average, he could be a rare commodity as an elite left-handed power threat at a tough position. His bat pushed him to Triple-A in his age 19 season, but it is still early in his overall development as a catcher. Even if he is only behind the dish in a part-time capacity, his 30+ home run upside from the left side. Average hit and plus or better power will ultimately play anywhere. With Adley Rutschman manning the catching position in Baltimore, Basallo’s most clear path with the org is likely first base while catching a couple times per week. If he were to get traded, he has shown enough improvement defensively to warrant more catching reps as he inches closer to average in that regard.