This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
BALTIMORE -- The expectations were high for so many Orioles prospects earlier this decade. The farm system was loaded with talented young position players, and many thought these promising hitters would reach the big leagues and quickly have success.
It doesn’t always work that way. It certainly hasn’t for Coby Mayo, a 2020 fourth-round Draft pick and former top prospect who arrived in MLB in August of ‘24.
“It’s tough. The game is very unforgiving, and it’s a very tough league, especially when you’re young and coming up and you have these high expectations,” Mayo said. “People think that you’re just going to hit the ground running and be an All-Star by year one or year two, and that’s just not realistic sometimes. Sometimes, it takes longer. And I’m still figuring it out.”
That may be true, but Mayo appears to be on the right track. His results of late are proof of that.
Entering Friday, Mayo’s 22 home runs this season were tied for the second most on the O’s. The 24-year-old has as many homers as Gunnar Henderson and trails only Pete Alonso (34).
It’s the first time Mayo has reached the 20-homer mark in his MLB career after hitting 11 homers in 102 games across the 2024 and ‘25 seasons.
“It’s definitely a cool accomplishment,” Mayo said. “You don’t go into the year chasing numbers, but I think when the year plays out, you kind of see what’s going on, and it’s been really cool. It’s been a cool year for me, personally.”
But Mayo’s maturation has featured plenty more than power.
Few big league hitters have been as dominant against left-handed pitching than the right-handed-hitting Mayo. He’s slashing .319/.383/.741 in 149 plate appearances against southpaws, and his 16 homers off lefties are the most in MLB.
Mayo hasn’t fared quite as well against righties (a .166/.234/.296 slash line in 244 plate appearances). There has been improvement, though, as he homered off right-handed pitchers on both Monday and Wednesday during a series win over the Guardians at Camden Yards.
After hitting .193 with a .659 OPS in 74 games before the All-Star break, Mayo has a .274 average and a .911 OPS over 44 contests during the second half.
“Early in the year, it’s tough. You’re trying to get off to a strong start,” Mayo said. “Everyone always wants to hit .300 the first month, you’re trying to just start off hot, because it’s easier to play when you’re hitting really good than trying to play catch-up all year. Early in the year is also cold, and I’ve never been the best cold-weather hitter. But I'm just happy that the results have been good recently.”
Mayo’s teammates knew it was only a matter of time. Outfielder Dylan Beavers, whose locker is next to Mayo’s in the Orioles’ home clubhouse, saw Mayo rake in the Minors and was confident the skills would eventually translate to big league success.
“I think last year, and the year before, he was really challenged,” Beavers said. “I’ve talked a lot about hitting and baseball in general with him, and I always knew he could really hit. And he knew it. But you get faced with challenges, and that’s what makes you better. I feel like he’s gone into full form. I’m not super surprised at all to see what he’s doing. But it’s fun to watch. He hits the ball really hard.”
This may be Craig Albernaz’s first year as Baltimore’s manager, but he was already familiar with Mayo before getting hired. Mayo’s MLB debut came at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Aug. 2, 2024, when Albernaz was the Guardians’ bench coach.
Plus, Mayo’s pedigree made it so Albernaz was familiar with the young slugger.
“Coming in, I knew the power that Coby possessed,” Albernaz said. “It’s kind of well known.”
But Albernaz has watched Mayo turn into a more complete hitter in 2026. At various points, the skipper has praised the corner infielder’s increased ability to hit to all fields, while also commending him for filling in at either third base or first base, whichever is needed.
It’s been an encouraging year for Mayo, who could only continue to get better from here.
“You can kind of see the evolution of Coby now. He’s a little more upright in his setup and utilizing his skill set more, which he does great,” Albernaz said. “Of all the players in that clubhouse, I think Coby’s the one I’m most proud of.”