Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday all arrived in Baltimore with the nation watching. Coby Mayo, Baltimore’s current top prospect, should receive a more normal rookie experience.
The Orioles made history when they went three consecutive years with the top prospect in baseball. Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday all spent time as the highest-rated prospect in the game, and all three have since made their way to Baltimore.
The front office received plenty of praise over those three years. Mike Elias and the organization earned the acclaim, and all three players already appear on track for tremendous big league careers. Rutschman and Henderson quickly emerged as leaders both on and off the field, and Holliday overcame a slow start to make some history of his own this season.
The Orioles no longer possess the top prospect in baseball, but their farm system still receives some of the highest marks across the league. It stands to reason that the top prospect in a highly rated system would receive plenty of attention, but Baltimore’s top prospect has flown under the radar this season.
MLB Pipeline’s updated rankings have Coby Mayo as the top youngster in the Orioles organization. The 22-year-old returned to the active roster at the beginning of the month, and Mayo appears destined for a part time role with the current state of the roster.
Mayo went hitless in his first six games before finally securing a knock on August 14. The Orioles optioned him the next day, but Mayo recorded a hit in his first game back.
One would think Mayo’s pedigree—along with injuries to Jordan Westburg, Ramón Urías and Ryan Mountcastle—would lead to daily at bats, but that hasn’t been the case. The Orioles claimed Emmanuel Rivera on August 21, and the 28-year-old slashed .286/.412/.643 in his first seven games with the Birds.
Brandon Hyde appears comfortable starting Rivera at first or third base. Ryan O’Hearn will play first against righties, and Eloy Jiménez has made a significant claim to the DH spot. Mayo made 23 appearances at first base with Norfolk this year, but it’s difficult to see the Orioles trusting Mayo at first this season.
Urías casually carried Baltimore at the plate in August. Mayo’s bat appears to hold more upside, but the Orioles trust Rivera’s defense over the rookie’s right now. Defensive concerns followed Mayo throughout the minors, and he failed to shake the reputation in his first big league action.
Mayo slashed .293/.369/.574 with 22 homers and 23 doubles over 87 games with the Tides. He projects as a middle-of-the-order type of bat, and the Orioles refused to trade him at the end of July. The hype around Mayo remains significant, but Baltimore’s talented roster should keep any struggles out of the spotlight.
Colton Cowser will likely win the AL Rookie of the Year award. Jordan Westburg was named an All Star in his first full season, and Cade Povich turned in his best MLB start last night against the White Sox.
Mayo watched Holliday struggle in his first stint, and Mayo has the benefit of picking his fellow rookie’s brain, but Mayo gets to do it without national attention. ESPN didn’t care that Mayo failed to record a hit in his first six games, and it doesn’t care now that Rivera may be stealing his at bats.
Mayo likely faces an uphill battle for a place on the postseason roster. Mountcastle, Urías and Westburg could all return by the end of the month, and Rivera will still hold the defensive edge. That being said, Mayo remains focused on developing into an everyday player.
The rookie knows he needs to run his own race and forge his own path. Mayo’s presence would steal the show in another organization, but Baltimore’s talented roster allows for a more “normal” rookie experience. Mayo only needs to compete for at bats—not the spotlight.