Samuel Basallo

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Samuel Basallo
Basallo at the 2024 All-Star Futures Game
Baltimore Orioles – No. 29
Catcher / First baseman
Born: (2004-08-13) August 13, 2004 (age 21)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 17, 2025, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Batting average.165
Home runs4
Runs batted in15
Teams

Samuel Alexander Basallo (SAM-well bah-SY-yo; born August 13, 2004) is a Dominican professional baseball catcher and first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025.

Career

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Basallo signed with the Baltimore Orioles as an international free agent on January 15, 2021.[1] He made his professional debut that year with the Dominican Summer League Orioles.

Basallo played 2022 with the rookie-level Florida Complex League Orioles and started 2023 with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds.[2][3] With Delmarva, he was chosen for the 2023 Carolina League Most Valuable Player Award and Top MLB Prospect Award.[4]

Basallo opened 2024 with the Double-A Bowie Baysox.[5][6] In 106 games for Bowie, he slashed .289/.355/.465 with 16 home runs, 55 RBI, and nine stolen bases. On August 27, 2024, Basallo was promoted to the triple-A Norfolk Tides.[7]

Basallo returned to Norfolk in 2025, hitting .270/.377/.589 with 23 home runs and 67 RBI in 76 appearances. On August 17, 2025, Basallo was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[8] His first MLB hit was a two-run single off Enyel De Los Santos in the eighth inning of an Orioles' 12–0 away win over the Houston Astros later that afternoon. His three-run homer attempt in the previous inning was denied by a Jesús Sánchez catch at the right-field wall.[9] On August 22, Basallo and the Orioles agreed to an eight-year, $67 million contract extension.[10] On August 30, he became the youngest catcher in franchise history to hit a home run.[11]

On September 5, 2025, Basallo hit a walk-off home run with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the ninth inning, leading the Orioles to a 2-1 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was Basallo's first home run at Camden Yards, and the first walk-off home run or hit of his career. [12]

References

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  1. ^ "He's No. 1: Catcher Samuel Basallo heads up O's international rankings". March 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "Prospect Report: Orioles' Basallo Has a Smashing Debut". April 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "Orioles Hope Samuel Basallo Adds to Burgeoning International Crop". February 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Avallone, Michael (September 19, 2023). "Here are the 2023 Single-A All-Stars and Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  5. ^ "Meet the 19-year-old phenom representing O's in Futures Game". MLB.com.
  6. ^ Lyons, Taylor (June 13, 2024). "Orioles prospect Samuel Basallo, back behind the plate, is proving the hype is real".
  7. ^ "Basallo Promoted to Triple-A Norfolk". milb.com. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "Orioles Promote Samuel Basallo". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  9. ^ Rill, Jake. "Basallo's day of firsts rounds out promising weekend for O's youth," MLB.com, Sunday 17 August 2025. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Orioles Extend Samuel Basallo". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  11. ^ Schulman, Henry. "Basallo's first HR another milestone in whirlwind month for O's," MLB.com, Saturday 30 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  12. ^ Rill, Jake (September 6, 2025). "1st Oriole Park HR is his 1st walk-off! Dreams began early for Basallo". MLB.com. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
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