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Baltimore’s top prospect, Samuel Basallo, had a big night at Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, with a three-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the third in a 6-4 Tides loss to Jacksonville.
Basallo, the #16 prospect in all of MiLB, per MLB.com, was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored in the loss.
Basallo, who signed with the Orioles as an international free agent in 2021, is slashing .260/.337/.562 with six homers, 13 RBIs and an .899 OPS at Norfolk in 2025.
His path to the big team is blocked by the presence of Adley Rutschman, a two-time All-Star at catcher.
The O’s front office signed veteran Gary Sanchez to be Rutschman’s backup, ostensibly to give Basallo more time in the minors for seasoning, and with Sanchez now on the injured list, they’ve gone to 27-year-old rookie Maverick Handley, who was slashing .346/.433/.558 at Norfolk as Basallo’s backup before getting the promotion.
Basallo is still just 20 – he’ll hit age 21 in August – so the feeling is, don’t rush him.
Rutschman, 27, is still under team control through the 2027 season, at which point he’ll be 29 going on 30 (he turns 30 on Feb. 6, 2028).
As Rutschman’s numbers decline, which is always the case with everyday catchers, Basallo is the next everyday catcher in Charm City, maybe as early as the 2027 season.