The Baltimore Orioles have had a rough July, going 8-11 so far, so it is time for top prospect Coby Mayo to debut and spark a struggling team. Since June 28, the Orioles are 10-13, and that is largely because they have struggled to hit the ball. Their batting average in that time is .239 and team OPS is .704. Both put them in the bottom half of MLB in terms of those stats. Over the past month, the Orioles are near the bottom of the league for most offensive stats. The team has gone flat, and a spark is needed. That is exactly what Coby Mayo can be. The number 15 prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, Mayo has all the offensive tools to succeed in MLB. The Orioles need to make a change, and Mayo is a great place to start.
A Look At Orioles Prospect Coby Mayo
Taken in the 4th round of the 2020 draft, Coby Mayo was by no means an immediate top prospect. But he quickly shot up prospect rankings after a great 2021 season, and by the end of 2022, he was the Orioles’ number 7 prospect. Now, he sits as their number 3 prospect and number 15 overall. For the last two seasons, Mayo has spent the majority of his time with Triple-A Norfolk. He has torn it up since the moment he got there, and this season he has taken the next jump.
This season, Mayo has played 93 games for Norfolk. He has a .290 batting average and a .946 OPS, the second-highest in the International League. The power Mayo possesses is no joke. He has smacked 20 home runs in Triple-A this season, and 19 doubles.
COBY MAYO MY GOODNESS.
426 feet to DEAD CENTER#DefendtheHarbor pic.twitter.com/8seWQsh170— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) July 26, 2024
That large home run total is good for third most in the International League. Mayo is near the top of nearly every stat in Triple-A, and offensively he has nothing left to prove. However, Mayo has struggled defensively.
Coby Mayo’s Defense
Typically a third baseman, Mayo is by no means a solid defender. He struggles at times, which is a key reason he has remained in Norfolk for so long. In 2023, Mayo ended with a .919 fielding percentage at third base. That number is lower than most major league fielders. The 2024 season has not been much different. Mayo has 10 errors at third base and a .929 fielding percentage. There is a lot of room for improvement for him at third base. But the hot corner is not the only position Mayo plays.
Switching Positions?
As the trade deadline has gotten closer, Mayo has been getting more starts at first base. He has already played 19 games there this season, which matches how many times he played there all of last year in Norfolk. Ryan Mountcastle, one of the Orioles’ usual first basemen, has had his name in trade talks. Maybe the Orioles are preparing for a world without Mountcastle, where Mayo is the first baseman. Also, Mayo has been a better fielder at first base than third base, posting a .955 fielding percentage at first. Having position versatility is an important trait, and if Mayo can become reliable at both corner infield spots, he can become a true star.
It’s Time To Call Up Mayo
Simply put, now is the time for Coby Mayo. The Orioles are scuffling, and at times seem to have no life. A young guy like Mayo, who has played with many of the current Orioles, can come in and be a big-time difference-maker, especially offensively. The corresponding move can be a variety of things. A Mountcastle trade is a possibility, or the Orioles might part ways with Ramón Urías, who has struggled. Whatever it may be, the Orioles have to find a way to get Mayo up soon, because he can and will be a difference-maker.
Photo Credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
