SARASOTA, Fla. -- Much of the talk about Coby Mayo this spring has been about his defense -- how he’s making the transition from first base back to third, how he’ll fare as the likely fill-in for the injured Jordan Westburg at the hot corner and even how he made a brief, unexpected return to shortstop.
However, let’s make sure to acknowledge that Mayo has been absolutely raking at the plate, and it’s been quite fun to watch over the past 2 1/2 weeks.
Mayo went 4-for-4 with his first home run of Spring Training and five RBIs in the Orioles’ 7-6 loss to the Astros in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, continuing his torrid start to Grapefruit League play. The 24-year-old former top prospect is hitting .500 (13-for-26) with three doubles, 10 RBIs and a 1.195 OPS over 10 games.
With less than two weeks of exhibition play remaining entering Wednesday, Mayo had five more hits than any of his Baltimore teammates.
On defense, Mayo’s return to third has been a work in progress. He’s made some nice plays, but he also has three errors in 49 innings over nine games.
Mayo’s ability to separate offense and defense shows how he’s matured as a big league player.
“My first year in ‘24, when I got called up, I wasn’t able to separate it. I’d make an error or make a mistake at third, and it would really affect me going into the box,” Mayo said. “And it still does. I don’t like making mistakes. I don’t like it for the pitchers, for the team, for myself, nobody.
“But this year, I think this coaching staff really believes in me, and if you make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world. It’s Spring Training. If you’re going to make mistakes, now is the time. And I’m able to go into the box with a clear mind. Also, when you’re playing well offensively, it kind of helps, too, with that confidence.”
Six of Mayo’s 13 hits have had an exit velocity of 100.9 mph or greater. His home run off Houston right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. traveled a Statcast-projected 434 feet. He's using the whole field, having hit balls in every direction, and he has struck out only once in 28 plate appearances.
If this continues, the O’s will want Mayo’s bat in the lineup as often as possible early in the season. Pete Alonso will typically be at first base, while the designated hitter spot will be filled by a rotation including Samuel Basallo, Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle, Tyler O’Neill and potentially others.
Mayo may not be a plus defender at third, but his bat can earn him playing time. Plus, Baltimore could carry infielder Luis Vázquez to have an above-average glove available off the bench.
The point is, though, that Mayo should be an integral part of the Orioles’ offense to open the season coming off of a winter that featured rampant trade speculation surrounding Mayo as well as Mountcastle.
“A lot of that noise is people making assumptions and trying to play GM who are not the GM, which is a real thing. A lot of that is for them to know that they have their own development to do,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “There are very few things in this game that you can control, but one of the things you can control is the work you put in each day, and that’s something that’s a credit to them, they’ve been doing that.”
Mayo believes his offseason work is a big reason for his hot spring, but he also cited the relationship he’s already developed with hitting coach Dustin Lind and assistant hitting coach Brady North, both new to Baltimore’s coaching staff. The encouragement and confidence expressed in Mayo has him playing free and easy when he’s on the field, he said.
This is also a continuation of where Mayo left off last year. Though he’s a .201 hitter with a .634 OPS in 102 MLB games over the past two seasons, his bat began to click last September, when he batted .301 with five homers and a .941 OPS in 24 games.
“I was bummed when the season ended, because I wanted to keep going. I thought that I had a lot more in me, and I felt really good,” Mayo said. “But I was able to hit the ground running in the offseason and worked really hard and challenged myself and just tried to carry it over.
“I was hoping with live at-bats and everything I would hope to pick up where I left off, and I kind of did. I had good live at-bats and spring’s been well so far, so I would like to say it’s carrying over, and I just want to keep that going.”