Coby Mayo has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. In a corresponding move, the Baltimore Orioles recalled versatile infielder Liván Soto. Mayo, 22, had just collected his first hit yesterday against the Washington Nationals. Before yesterday’s game, Mayo had struggled to get a grasp at major league level pitching. With Mayo will go down and hit the reset button, and hopefully, will be ready as a potential September callup.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/Ul05w2KXIA
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 15, 2024
Coby Mayo Optioned to Triple-A Norfolk
Despite Mayo’s hot hitting in Triple-A, he did not have the same success in Baltimore. Mayo collected just 1 hit and 3 walks in 20 plate appearances. That equates to a .056 batting average and a .259 OPS. He has 10 strikeouts in his minute 17 at-bats and never seemed fully comfortable at the plate. Alas, Mayo’s biggest issue was his inability to catch up to an MLB fastball. His RV/100 (run value per 100 pitches) against the fastball was -6.7, which is not good at all. Overall, Mayo could never get it going and heads back down to Norfolk with key things to work on.
Liván Soto’s Place on the Orioles
As for Soto, he was traded to the Orioles at the trade deadline from the Cincinnati Reds. He spent a few days with the club before being sent down. However, Soto’s stint this time up with the Orioles should last a little longer. The Orioles are in need of some versatility in the infield and Soto brings just that. Although Mayo is an infielder as well, Soto can play second base, shortstop, and third base. That is the type of player the Orioles have been missing since Jorge Mateo’s injury. Despite not having much power, Soto can hit for average and can be a solid bottom-of-the-order piece. Soto now has a chance to make an impression and try to earn a spot on a playoff team.
The Orioles Have Been Down This Road Before
This situation is eerily similar to that of Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline. Holliday struggled during his first stint, so the Orioles sent him down. And now, just a few months later, Holliday is back and playing extremely well. Now that Mayo has a taste of the majors, he can go down and work on specific things. He is a good enough player to come back up and do exactly what Holliday did. Mayo will be back up in no time and will make his mark during the stretch run of September.
Main Photo: © Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
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