Samuel Basallo is called up to the Major Leagues with the Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles’ number one prospect, Samuel Basallo, will make his MLB debut this Sunday. The team selected his contract from Triple-A Norfolk. Basallo, ranked as Baltimore’s number 1 prospect and number 8 in baseball according to MLB.com, is a catcher and first baseman. For his first game, he batted sixth and acted as designated hitter in the last game of the series against the Astros.This call-up comes one day after the team promoted outfielder Dylan Beavers, the No. 3 prospect. Basallo, a 21-year-old Dominican, batted .270 with 23 home runs and 67 RBIs in 76 games for Norfolk this season. He will be the backup catcher to the star Adley Rutschman and will also play first base.This is the first great Latin American signing we have. We are very excited about him. We hope he is competitive and does well.
Tony Mansolino, Interim Manager of Baltimore
Mansolino added that Basallo will start as a catcher on Monday night in Boston and that he will include him in the lineup at first base during the team’s next home series. In addition, the Orioles reinstated outfielder Colton Cowser from the 7-day concussion list and optioned outfielder Daniel Johnson and first baseman/outfielder Ryan Noda to Triple-A Norfolk. They also transferred right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin (lower back discomfort) to the 60-day injured list.Adley will function as our number 1 catcher because that’s what he is. He’s a very good catcher. Basallo will function as the number 2 catcher, he’ll play in day games, Adley won’t play four in a row, things like that.
Tony Mansolino, Interim Manager of Baltimore
