Orioles No. 2 prospect crushes three-run homer in 6-3 win over Bucs
*Cover Photo Credit: Ulysses Munoz, The Baltimore Banner
Oops...Samuel Basallo did it again.
The 20-year-old top catching prospect contributed to the Orioles' 6-3 win over the Pirates last night. With two runners on base and two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Basallo worked the count to 2-1 against former Orioles Minor Leaguer Isaac Mattson, whom then proceeded to go low-and-in with a slider.
The slider missed middle, and Basallo did not miss it.
He deposited it well over the LECOM Park's picnic porch in right center field for a three-run bomb, his second of the spring season. This gave the Orioles some insurance on the evening, putting the score at 6-2.
Basallo ended up going 1-for-3 on the day, striking out the other two times. That means little to nothing, though, as his offense has not slowed down at all during big league camp. His power has been on full display, as evidenced by the 455-foot moonshot that he clobbereed against Toronto the other week.
He is hitting .294 in Spring Training with a phenominal 1.043 OPS. The ball has been jumping off his bat.
This has been an exciting preview to what could be in the near future. A left-handed power bat that suites Oriole Park at Camden Yards perfectly has been showing its potential all spring long. Basallo has the launch angle and the power necessary to do serious damage in a ballpark that is so left-handed hitting friendly. While it may need some extra time at Triple-A Norfolk to start (he only played 21 AAA games last year), it is not far from being big league ready.
In other news from the game, 2024 Ironbird Levi Wells threw two solid innings in relief, allowing just two hits while striking out three and topping out at 97 MPH. Lefty Luis De Leon allowed just one run over two relief innings with a strikeout. Daz Cameron picked up 2 RBI, and former No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday went 2-for-4 with a double.
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