The buzz around Samuel Basallo dated all the way back to the dark days of the rebuild. The Orioles were just breaking into the modern international market back in 2021, and Basallo’s $1.3 million deal represented a shift in the organization’s philosophy under Mike Elias.
Basallo did his part in the minors, but top draftees like Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday found their way into the spotlight. Basallo played his way into the “untouchable” category during trade deadlines, but he remained
far from the big leagues when the Birds returned to the postseason in 2023.
Orioles fans and executives were still looking forward to Basallo’s eventual arrival, but a division title shifted the focus to the present. Baltimore entered 2025 with every intention of returning to the postseason for the third consecutive year, but things fell apart in a hurry. Suddenly, everyone was left dreaming of a brighter future once again.
Basallo’s numbers in the minors reports emerged as some of the only good news Camden Chat had to offer. If there’s anything fans of this team know how to do, it’s dream on some prospects. Elias has provided several young stars worthy of special attention, and the power-hitting catcher justified all the recognition.
As the O’s woes continued, it became more clear that Basallo could represent one of the few bright spots during the 2025 season. Baltimore’s brutal stretch of catcher injuries, paired with some murky prospect incentive rules, only fanned the flame.
Somehow, at only 21 years old, it felt like Basallo finally arrived when he made his MLB debut on August 17. Less than one week later, Basallo reset expectations by signing the first long-term extension of the Elias administration.
Basallo entered last night’s game hitting .217, but the rookie has passed the eye test with flying colors. He consistently hits the ball hard, displays a mature approach at the plate, and appears capable of catching and playing first base at the big league level. He has a long journey ahead of him if he hopes to meet the hype, but he’s on track for now.
Jeremiah Jackson could not have arrived in Baltimore under more different circumstances. The Orioles signed the former second-round draft choice to a minor-league contract in a year where they appeared to have significant outfield depth. Ramón Laureano and Dylan Carlson were signed to back up Cedric Mullins, Tyler O’Neill, Colton Cowser, and Heston Kjerstad. Ryan O’Hearn and Jorge Mateo could both play the outfield if needed, and the O’s had prospects like Dylan Beavers and Jud Fabian waiting to break through.
Jackson went to the minors and hit anyway. He slashed .254/.291/.412 at Double-A before posting a ridiculous .377/.400/.673 line at Norfolk. The Orioles promoted Jackson after dealing away several talented players, and the 25-year-old made sure not to waste his opportunity. Jackson felt like a Vimael Machín type when the hits started to come, but sustained offense has some wondering whether Jackson could play his way into the Orioles young core club. Camden Chat’s John Beers dubbed him “the spiritual successor to Jorge Mateo” earlier this week.
It’s one thing to hit when the pressure is off. The Orioles should replenish the major league roster with talent over the offseason, and Jackson will need to earn his roster spot in 2026, but he looks up to the task up to this point.
Dylan Beavers entered the season relatively under the radar, but the narrative shifted when Baltimore sold at the deadline. Beavers tore it up at Norfolk, but the Orioles decided to give players like Jackson an opportunity before Beavers made his major league debut.
While Basallo felt like a legitimate candidate for the 2026 Rookie of the Year award, fans were surprised to see Baltimore hold back Beavers in an effort to preserve PPI eligibility. Many were quick to point out that Beavers did not originally meet the requirements of a top 100 ranking on two of the three major prospect lists. Beavers fell somewhere in between “he’s ready for the big leagues NOW” and “he’s not even a Top 100 prospect.”
Beavers made his MLB debut on August 17 and immediately got on base. He entered last night’s contest with a .333/.439/.479 line and a 158 OPS+. Baseball America named Beavers to its Top 100 list last month, and it’s been easy to see why. Beavers, still holding prospect eligibility, should become a consensus Top 100 prospect after a red-hot start at the major league level.
The presence of this trio has helped divert attention away from Coby Mayo. The 23-year-old failed to display his power potential over 46 plate appearances last year, and the former top prospect has yet to solve major league pitching. The Orioles remain dedicated to getting Mayo at bats with O’Hearn out of the picture, but the former fourth-rounder clearly needs some guidance at the dish. Mayo entered last night hitting .186 with a -0.8 bWAR and a 64 OPS+. He’s capable of giving the ball a ride, but there are a few too many holes in that power bat.
It doesn’t matter what type of hype a prospect receives if he doesn’t perform in the show, but expectations help frame evaluations. The Orioles deserve high marks if they develop Jackson into an above-average utility player. At the same time, the organization must determine the best way to maximize Basallo’s potential over the next eight seasons.
With former AL Outstanding Rookie Colton Cowser’s stock currently trending down, Beavers looks like an everyday player heading into 2026. Can you imagine if this guy won the AL Rookie of the Year Award next season?
Players like Mayo and Cowser have September to sort through issues at the plate, but the front office will be analyzing player performance for the remainder of the season. One thing is for sure, the arrival of Basallo, Beavers and Jackson should only raise the bar for roster spots in the future.
