KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One of the more intriguing hypothetical questions after Orioles spring training was whether catching prospect Samuel Basallo would be the next man up if an injury occurred to either Adley Rutschman or Gary Sánchez.
At least for the short term, that question now has a definitive answer.
Basallo, the best catching prospect in baseball, injured his left hamstring during Triple-A Norfolk’s game Friday and will miss time. The Orioles designated his injury as “left hamstring discomfort,” and he was placed on the Tides’ seven-day injured list Saturday.
The Orioles have not detailed how Basallo suffered his injury or how long he’ll be out.
The 20-year-old was already dealing with inflammation in his throwing elbow that kept him from playing catcher to begin the season. Last season, Basallo dealt with a stress fracture in his elbow that limited his time behind the plate. In seven games this season, Basallo was 5-for-20 at the plate with two home runs and three RBIs.
Basallo, who Baseball America ranks as MLB’s No. 13 prospect, was one of the stars of Orioles spring training with his loud batting practice and maturity. He hit two mammoth home runs during spring training games, and he impressed 41-year-old starting pitcher Charlie Morton with the way he caught Morton’s bullpen session.
How Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo became one of baseball’s best prospects: ‘This kid is special’
In 2023, Basallo put himself on the map with a stellar minor league season, reaching Double-A in just his age-18 campaign. Basallo, who signed with the Orioles for a then-record $1.3 million, reached Triple-A last year, joining an exclusive group of prospects to take a week’s worth of plate appearances at the level in their age-19 season.
But his 2025 season will be off to a slow start because of his hamstring injury. His MLB debut could still come later this year if Basallo dominates Triple-A and the Orioles need a left-handed bat.
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