For the second time this week, the Orioles are promoting one of their best prospects a day later than many anticipated.
After a four-hit performance for Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday night, corner infielder Coby Mayo is set to join the Orioles in Cleveland and make his major league debut this weekend. The 22-year-old ranks as Baltimore’s No. 3 prospect behind only infielder Jackson Holliday and Double-A Bowie catcher Samuel Basallo and is the 15th-best prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com. The move comes two days after All-Star third baseman Jordan Westburg suffered a fractured right hand, but the Orioles initially recalled infielder Livan Soto — who was acquired from Cincinnati earlier this week — to take Westburg’s place on the 26-man roster.
Holliday was summoned to the majors on Wednesday, a day after the Orioles selected the contract of utility infielder Terrin Vavra to temporarily replace departed second baseman Connor Norby on the active roster.
A 2020 fourth-round pick out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Mayo brings a high-ceiling power bat to the majors after batting .308 with 23 home runs, 25 doubles, 67 RBIs, and a 1.003 on-base plus slugging percentage for the Tides this season, numbers that more than proved he was ready offensively for an opportunity in the majors. The bigger question is Mayo’s long-term defensive profile, but he has a strong arm and is better at third base than he is at first at this stage of his career. With Westburg expected to be sidelined at least into September, Mayo figures to receive plenty of opportunities at the hot corner while trying to provide a threat from the right side of the plate, something of which the Orioles needed more even before the Westburg injury.
His arrival continues a dramatic transformation of the Orioles infield from where it was just two weeks ago. On July 23, Jorge Mateo — the primary second baseman for much of the season — suffered a dislocated left elbow, a significant injury that’s sidelined him indefinitely. General manager Mike Elias traded his replacement, Norby, to Miami as part of the trade for left-handed starting pitcher Trevor Rogers on Tuesday and recalled the 20-year-old Holliday for his first major league stint since April. But the absence of Westburg is easily the most difficult blow as the 25-year-old blossomed into an All-Star infielder this season and plays both second and third, providing valuable versatility.
Mayo appeared to be on the verge of a promotion to the majors in mid-May before a fractured rib landed him on the Triple-A injured list. He returned to Norfolk a month later and has batted .315 with seven homers, 11 doubles, 24 RBIs, and a .958 OPS over 149 plate appearances dating back to June 18.
