The Orioles think they’ve got their AL Rookie of the Year candidate for 2026, and it’s catcher Samuel Basallo. The 21-year-old got his feet wet with 31 games last season but maintained his rookie eligibility for this year.
Basallo’s debut numbers weren’t pretty – a .559 OPS across 118 plate appearances. But he showed flashes, cranking four homers including a walk-off bomb against the Dodgers that had Camden Yards going crazy.
Now MLB.com’s Jake Rill is predicting Basallo will win the whole thing, beating out prospects like Toronto’s Trey Yesavage and Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle.
“A breakout year is coming for the 21-year-old, whose bat will heat up in the summer months.”
There’s more than bragging rights at stake here. Baltimore gets an extra late first-round pick in 2027 if Basallo or outfielder Dylan Beavers takes home Rookie of the Year honors. That’s real organizational value.
The Playing Time Question
Here’s where it gets tricky. Adley Rutschman should be healthy and ready to handle most of the catching duties. That pushes Basallo toward first base or DH when Rutschman’s behind the plate.
But Baltimore just signed Pete Alonso to play first base. They’ve still got Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo on the roster too.
Something’s gotta give. The smart money says Mountcastle gets moved, though his trade value took a hit after a rough 2025 at the plate. That’s where the Orioles front office earns their paycheck – finding a landing spot that works for everyone.
What makes this different is Basallo’s age and ceiling. At 21, he’s got plenty of development runway left. If the bat comes around like the organization believes it will, Baltimore could have their catcher of the future and a Rookie of the Year winner.
The early returns weren’t there, but that walk-off against LA? That’s the kind of moment that builds confidence. Now it’s about stringing together 150 games of consistent production.
