With Rutschman Out, Is Samuel Basallo’s Time Now?
A Blog By Robbie
Samuel Basallo, who’s ranked 14th on MLB Pipeline is inching closer and closer to a callup. Adley Rutschman’s trip to the injured list (oblique), may leave the Orioles with no other choice, especially given the fact that they have been lackluster this season and in desperate need of an offensive spark. Baltimore’s front office has been committed to not rushing the 20-year-old to the big leagues, but the matter seems pressing at this point.
When the Baltimore Orioles signed Samuel Basallo out of the Dominican Republic back in early 2021, he was just 16 years old, but he commanded a $1.3 million signing bonus. This figure came out to be the highest that Baltimore had ever given to an international. This monumental investment was driven by his immense raw power, and it is now beginning to pay dividends… much faster than most expected. Still just 20 years old, Basallo is the most talked-about catching prospect in all of baseball.
Basallo, who’s 6’4, 180 pounds made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2021, batting .239/.338/.410 in 41 games. The results in his 16-year-old season did not jump off the page, but his powerful swing and strike zone awareness led to early praise from evaluators across the league. Only two years later (2023), his bat really began to explode. In 114 games between Low-A, High-A, and Double-A, he posted a slash line of .313/.402/.551 with 20 home runs and 86 RBIs, showcasing his ability to translate his raw power into legitimate production while developing a more mature approach at the plate, with a 12.6% walk rate. At the young age 19 years old, the catcher/first baseman was not only holding his own, he was dominating. His performance propelled him into top 100 prospect lists, and evidently entered 2024 widely regarded as one of the best hitters in the minors. After a brief, dominant stint in Double-A (2024), he was called up to Triple-A Norfolk, where he continued his success. Fast forward to 2025, and you’ll find Basallo still exploding against minor league pitching. As it stands, he’s slashing .264/.393/.569 with a .961 OPS and 15 homers.
Basallo has only improved his chance of a callup with his versatility this season, as he’s been splitting time between catcher and first base, which raises his ceiling even further. Behind the plate, Basallo’s arm strength is his clear strength. Overall, his defensive game does not compare to his offensive ability, as scouts have mentioned how his blocking and receiving needs some work. The model over at Scout the Statline (StS) adores Samuel Basallo. Their Peak Projections have Basallo ranked first, including a massive slash line once the callup is made. They project a slash line of .290/.365/.525 with a whopping 30 home runs and 91 RBI. Prospect Larceny’s Formulated Ranking also places Basallo near the top, only behind Nacho Alvarez Jr. Their formulated rankings include an OPS projection of .961, and a wRC+ of 152.
With Rutschman sidelined until at least the All-Star break, the O’s have an opportunity to give Samuel Basallo a chance at the big-league level. Defensively, he could work his way into a platoon role with Sánchez behind the plate while also getting reps time at first base and designated hitter, increasing his chance at every day at-bats. If he ends up producing at the big-league level, Basallo will not just be a temporary fix, he will force his way into Baltimore’s long-term plans much faster than initially expected.
Update: As I was writing this, Basallo launched his 16th home run of the season, raising his slug to .582. Today’s blast