BALTIMORE -- Coby Mayo feels he has proven all he can in the Orioles’ farm system. He knows what step needs to come next.
“I think I’ve done a really good job of being a really good Minor League player,” Mayo said. “Now, it’s about becoming a really good, consistent Major League player.”
On Saturday, Mayo (ranked by MLB Pipeline as the club’s No. 2 prospect and overall No. 12) received his next big league opportunity. The 23-year-old corner infielder was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk prior to the Orioles’ 4-0 loss to the Royals at Camden Yards. He entered in the seventh inning and went 0-for-2, striking out to end the contest.
Mayo took the roster spot of infielder Ramón Urías, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain after getting scratched from Friday's lineup. Urías became the MLB-high 14th player on Baltimore’s IL, which features such other key position players as infielder Jordan Westburg (left hamstring strain) and outfielders Colton Cowser (left thumb fracture) and Tyler O’Neill (neck inflammation).
Upon reaching the Majors for the first time in 2024, Mayo went 4-for-41 (.098) with no extra-base hits over two stints with the O’s (Aug. 2-15 and Sept. 1-21).
In Spring Training this year, Mayo hit .190 (8-for-42) with three doubles and three RBIs in 17 Grapefruit League games. However, he went 7-for-19 (.368) over his final eight contests. That wasn’t enough to push his way onto a crowded MLB roster, as the Orioles optioned the 2020 fourth-round Draft pick on March 18.
Mayo had been playing well at Triple-A, where he batted .252 with seven doubles, two triples, six home runs, 22 RBIs and an .869 OPS over 28 games for Norfolk. He didn’t start Saturday as he didn’t find out the news of his promotion until 11:45 a.m. ET in Charlotte, N.C., where the Tides were playing.
“I think he was really pressing in Spring Training and trying way too hard,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Sounds like he’s hitting the ball hard down there.”
General manager Mike Elias said on Friday that Mayo was “really close” to a big league return.
“I’m really happy with where he is,” Elias said. “It seems like he’s in a good spot -- the production that we’re seeing out of him, the quality of the at-bats, the work that he’s putting in. He’s going to be a big part of this team.”
If Mayo’s hitting and power tools begin to translate to the big leagues, he could quickly become a big boost to an Orioles offense that could use more production amid the team’s 13-19 start, particularly against left-handed pitching. Baltimore ranks last in MLB in batting average (.174) and OPS (.490) vs. southpaws.
The right-handed-hitting Mayo was 9-for-17 (.529) with two doubles, one triple, four home runs and nine RBIs against lefties at Triple-A this season.
“That can be a big role for me in my career, being a lefty power hitter, just a really good hitter in general,” Mayo said. “I’m being stingy with swing decisions and whatnot, just narrowing the zone down in Triple-A and trying to make them come to me.”
The Orioles are temporarily losing one of their more consistent righty hitters in Urías, who has a .292 batting average, two doubles, two homers, nine RBIs and a .756 OPS in 22 games. The 30-year-old is taking a few days off, but Hyde is optimistic the hamstring injury won’t become a long-term issue.
“I think that he’s going to continue most baseball activities once he gets feeling a little bit better,” Hyde said. “So I don’t think it’s going to be very long.”
Eventually, Baltimore will begin to get reinforcements. The first could be right-handed starter Zach Eflin (right lat strain), who is making a rehab start for High-A Aberdeen on Sunday. O’Neill and Westburg might also be back soon, potentially without even needing rehab assignments (which is still to be decided).
In the meantime, the banged-up O’s are trying to build positive momentum. They ended April with a series victory against the Yankees, then won Friday’s opener vs. the Royals.
“It’s a lot. It’s a lot of guys,” Hyde said. “You just got to worry about the 26 guys right now that we have on the roster and do everything we can to play well.
“I don’t see anybody hanging their head or feeling sorry for us. The other teams aren’t going to feel sorry for us. You’ve got to just put one foot in front of the other.”