Coby Mayo was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round of the 2020 Amateur Player Draft. Selected during a full-fledged rebuild of the Baltimore organization, the power-hitting infielder might have slipped lower than he should have.
It was announced yesterday that Mayo was officially named the Eastern League Most Valuable Player for the 2023 season.
Mayo would start the season in Double-A Bowie. It was evident there was something different with his approach to the plate this season compared to years prior. The power numbers were still on display, as 56% of Mayo’s hits were for extra bases.
What changed was Mayo’s patience. He was seeing 4.199 pitches per plate appearance, hitting .384 on balls put in play, and he was walking 15% of the time, up nearly seven percent from last year.
Mayo’s patience and growth paid off, as over the course of 78 games in the Eastern League, he would slash .307/.424/.603 (1.027 OPS) for the season.
The 21-year-old would total 88 hits, including 30 doubles, two triples and 17 home runs. He drove in 44 runs while scoring 48 himself and lowered his strikeout rate while increasing his walk and also collecting a 33-game on-base streak at one point this season.
Mayo’s monster season in Bowie would earn him a promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, but his work and growth would not go unnoticed in the Eastern League.
Mayo, who earned back-to-back Eastern Player of the Week honors, as well as Player of the Month, joins fellow prospect and teammate Jackson Holliday in the season awards department.
Mayo’s progress and growth into a well-rounded hitter, as well as his ability to play the corner infield and outfield spots has helped him become the Orioles’ No. 4 and MLB’s No. 27 prospect.
We would like to congratulate Coby Mayo on winning the Eastern League MVP, and we can’t wait to see what else is in store for him in his young career.
What do you think of Coby Mayo’s 2023 season? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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