MLB's No. 15 prospect wil debut in Cleveland
*Cover Photo Credit: The Baltimore Banner
Break out the mayonnaise because it's Mayo time!
The Orioles are officially promoting 22-year-old infielder Coby Mayo to the big league club. A 40-man roster spot is vaccant, so they will not need to adjust that but they will need to make a corresponding move to the 26-man Major League roster.
A Coby Mayo promotion has been longed for in Birdland. Now, it makes sense to select the phenom corner infielder following Connor Norby's departure and Jordan Westburg's fractured wrist. This most definitely allows everyday reps for Mayo at third base and potentially some time on the flip side of the corner infield at first base, perhaps even as a designated hitter.
Even amidst an IL stint from fractured ribs, all Mayo has done with Triple-A Norfolk this season is mash. Ranked No. 15 on MLB Pipeline's updated prospect rankings, he has a slashline of .294/.370/.581 this season with a .619 slugging percentage, a 1.003 OPS, and 67 RBI in 83 games this season. His 23 home runs are fourth in the International League this season.
They are not cheap home runs, either. The 6'5" .230 lb. slugger is crushing moonshots over the fence. Check out this home run that he clobbered back in April.
Enough said?
Mayo's career began as a 4th round pick in 2020 from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. His first taste of pro ball in 2021 saw him hit .311 with a .953 OPS in 27 games for Low-A Delmarva. He would spend both the 2022 and 2023 seasons making the climb to Norfolk, having passed High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Bowie both beforehand. In those two years, Mayo's power surged as did his solid contact. In 184 games between those three affiliates, he mashed 48 home runs, added 65 doubles along the way, and picked up 168 RBI.
He claimed the Eastern League MVP award as a member of Bowie after posting a 1.026 OPS in 78 games before being pulled up to Norfolk. He slugged .603 while hitting 17 home runs and driving in 40 runs.
There is no doubt that Mayo's offense, aside from modestly high strikeout rates, is Major League ready. He has a 24.5% strikeout percentage which is slightly above league average, but he makes up for it with his thunderous power and on-base abilities.
The primary concern surrounding Mayo is what to do with him defensively. He can be a streaky infielder. He has 10 errors at third base this season and a .935 fielding percentge over there, and his career MiLB fielding percentage at third base is .915. That is not particularly pretty, but it appears that the Orioles do not have much of a choice but to work him there and let the coaching staff mentor Mayo with his glove and his arm, which is strong as strong gets but also somewhat wild.
Putting that aside, it is yet another exciting day in Birdland. Mayo is a prized and popular prospect, and his arrival is the arrival of another piece of the puzzle that is Mike Elias' genius masterplan. The pieces are all falling into place, and the future Orioles team that fans dreamed of just a few years ago is finally becoming reality.
It is no longer a dream. With Mayo's arrival, the Orioles and Mike Elias' dream team is here and ready to compete for a World Series title.
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