O's top prospect Basallo checking all boxes early in camp

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Samuel Basallo is getting comfortable. MLB's No. 13 prospect arrived at Spring Training this year fully healthy and eager to learn. After a stress fracture in his right elbow limited his 2024 Spring Training, Basallo hopes to make up for lost time.

"I feel like last spring, I faced a lot of limitations, not being able to work on everything," Basallo said through team interpreter Brandon Quinones. "And this spring, I feel like I've been able to focus a lot more on my defense and those specific [defensive details].

"So, it's been nice."

On Sunday, the 20-year-old catcher got his first chance to show Orioles manager Brandon Hyde how much he has learned. Making his first Grapefruit League start behind the plate, Basallo caught five innings and singled in the Orioles' 7-3 win over the Phillies at BayCare Ballpark.

"It's fun to watch him catch; it's a big target. He hit a couple of balls hard," Hyde said. "I thought it was a great job for his first start in a big league Spring Training game."

Basallo showcased his power with some hard-hit balls. He scorched a ground ball through the right-side gap off Phillies left-hander Nick Vespi in the fifth inning for a hit. He also grounded out to first baseman Kody Clemens in the first inning and struck out on four pitches against right-hander Kyle Tyler in the fourth.

Basallo's confidence behind the plate was evident as well. In the fifth inning, he used the ABS challenge system to have a ball overturned to a strike for pitcher Brandon Young.

"I caught the ball and I thought that it was a strike, so I immediately touched my mask to signal the challenge," Basallo said. "Last year, I had some experience with it in the Minor Leagues and used it a few times. I didn't use it as much as maybe one would think -- just because I was scared to fail -- but I used it on and off a few times."

While known for his consistent left-handed bat and raw power, Basallo's ability to receive and frame pitches has earned praise from Hyde and Orioles pitchers this spring. Cade Povich, who tossed two hitless innings on Sunday, had nothing but good things to say about Basallo.

"He's been great. I've thrown a few bullpen [sessions] and a few live sessions to him -- very impressed with his framing. I think even his pitch-calling -- obviously, he only caught me a few times -- but for the most part, we were pretty much on the same page with what I wanted to throw," Povich said. "I think that's just going to come with reps. But for the few times he's caught me so far, I've been really impressed with his stuff."

For Hyde, seeing Basallo play against big league players is revealing. It offers a chance to observe his composure and confidence -- and to teach.

"With game action, we can have some coaching points for him," Hyde said. "But mostly, I am just excited to watch him play in front of a crowd rather than setting up on the back fields in front of nobody."

Basallo is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk and is unlikely to reach the big leagues before the end of 2025. The Orioles signed veteran catcher Gary S¨¢nchez to a one-year, $8.5 million deal to back up All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman this season.

Still, there is a chance.

Hyde hesitated to discuss Basallo's path to the Majors, especially after just one Spring Training game. Hyde knows, however, that the idea of having both Basallo -- who can also play first base -- and Rutschman in his lineup is intriguing.

"He's only 20 years old, and Adley is an established Major League player and a really good catcher who's going to have a really good year," Hyde said. "But Basallo's bat is really, really intriguing. The raw power is -- his batting practice is really impressive. So, I mean, you can always find a way."