Samuel

Basallo

Basallo’s third and fifth inning round-trippers traveled a combined 823 feet before he doubled off the top of the wall a couple frames later, narrowly missing his third big fly of the contest. The 20-year-old prodigy is still striking out a healthy amount and has six homers in 21 games this season. It’s been encouraging to see him back behind the plate recently after being limited defensively at the outset of the year due to right elbow inflammation during spring training. He’s a top-15 range prospect for dynasty purposes right now given his offensive upside and potential to retain catcher eligibility at the outset of his big-league career.

It’s hard to say what the Orioles would do if Basallo was banging down the door, but it’s not an issue at the moment; the top prospect is hitting a modest .210/.286/.419 in 70 plate appearances. The strikeouts are a new problem for him. He had just five in 12 games through the end of April (he missed time with a hamstring strain last month), but since May started, he’s fanned 13 times in six games.

Basallo was reinstated off the minor league injured list after missing a week-plus with a mild left hamstring strain. The 20-year-old is one of the top prospects in baseball, and while his position is currently blocked at the highest level, he has a chance to help Baltimore in 2025.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias told reporters Tuesday that Basallo could return at DH in a couple weeks and resume catching at some point in May. The 20-year-old slugging backstop figures to reach the big leagues later this year and is one of the premier fantasy-relevant prospects worth keeping a close eye on.

The 20-year-old slugger is on the fringe of making an impact at the big-league level with the Orioles, but his timetable is going to get pushed back a bit if he winds up missing time due to the hamstring issue. Expect the team to have an update on his status as more information becomes available.

Basallo belted 19 round-trippers last year between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk and is one of the premier power-hitting prospects in the fantasy landscape. His path to playing time in Baltimore is a bit murky, but he’s the type of impact bat that will force his way into a prominent role, when he’s ready. It’s almost time.

One of the top prospects in the fantasy landscape, it feels like only a matter of time before Basallo is mashing at the highest level. The 20-year-old prodigy made it all the way to Triple-A last year and boasts top-of-the-scale raw power potential. He’s unlikely to retain catcher eligibility long-term, but he’ll make enough loud contact to be an impact fantasy contributor regardless of his defensive home.

Basallo’s no-doubter to right-center field left his bat at 111.3 mph and traveled 403 feet, according to Statcast. The 20-year-old burgeoning slugger, who checked in as the 21st-ranked prospect (107th overall) in Rotoworld’s latest dynasty rankings update, could make his big-league debut later this summer after launching 19 round-trippers last year in the upper minors. He’s probably going to move off catcher once he reaches the majors, but there’s enough raw power to envision him making a four-category impact if he reaches his ceiling.

Basallo capped off a four-run uprising off of Keider Montero in the opening inning with a two-out, three-run triple. Astonishingly, that would wind up being the extent of the Orioles’ offense until they pushed three more runs across in the ninth inning. The 20-year-old backstop is having a solid spring at the dish, hitting .308 (4-for-13) with a homer and five RBI.

Basallo entered the game at first base today. He should eventually be a starting catcher in the majors, but that’s complicated in Baltimore, and he might have to first establish himself as a first baseman or DH. His bat simply isn’t going to need much more time in Triple-A.