We have reached the final two players on the Orioles’ top 30 prospects list.
The Orioles found a gem in the international market, and he is now the best catching prospect in the entire sport. Let’s talk about the O’s No. 2 overall prospect, Samuel Basallo, in this edition of Prospect Profiles.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 40 | Arm: 60 | Field: 45 | Overall: 60
The 2021 international market was filled with recognizable prospects. Names like Yoelqui Cespdes (the younger brother of Yoenis) and now current Milwaukee Brewers star Jackson Churio.
With all those big names, the Orioles decided they had bigger fish to fry and signed Basallo to an Orioles’ record at the time $1.3 million bonus. Basallo was just 16 years old when he signed.
Basallo made his professional debut in the DSL on July 12, 2021, where he had a two-hit day, which included a double and an RBI. He would play in 54 games that season and have a .748 OPS with 32 hits and 13 extra-base hits.
His 2022 season in the FCL would show much of the same, as he had a .774 in two more games played, when he finished with 44 hits.
Basallo’s 2023 season would consist of a ton of movement and awards. The Santo Domingo, Dominican native started with Low-A Delmarva, where he slashed .299/.384/.503 with a .887 OPS, which included 92 hits, including 12 home runs, and 60 RBIs.
He would earn a plethora of hardware, including Player of the Week in June, the Carolina League MVP, Carolina League Top MLB Prospect and was even named a Carolina League Post-Season All-Star. Basallo also had playing time with High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Bowie.
In 2024, during spring training, there was concern of a stress fracture in Basallo’s right elbow, which limited him from his normal catcher position. Yet, the injury might have shown how good he is at first base.
Basallo started the year once again as a Baysox for 106 games, where he compiled 115 hits, 22 doubles and 16 home runs. He would finish with a promotion yet little slump in Triple-A Norfolk, hitting .222 in 21 games.
Basallo combines the ability to hit the ball with elite-level exit velocities and an advanced approach at the plate, making him a dangerous hitter. The big left-hander has strong hands and has simplified his setup, giving him the ability to drive the ball to all fields and make a ton of contact while also drawing a lot of walks.
If there are any questions at all about Basallo, they are about his ability to stick behind the plate. There’s still work to be done on his receiving, but his bat will profile just fine at first base, where he’s been getting comfortable defensively to provide some positional flexibility, especially with Adley Rutschman behind the dish in Baltimore.
What are your thoughts on O’s No. 2 overall prospect, Samuel Basallo? 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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