ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported on Friday that the Baltimore Orioles and 21-year-old catcher Samuel Basallo reached an eight-year, $67 million contract extension. Basallo was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and made his Major League Baseball debut on Sunday in Houston.
At 16, Basallo signed with the Orioles as an international free agent in January 2021 for $1.5 million. Before signing with Baltimore, the New York Yankees had a deal in place for the amateur catcher, but their nine-year, $324 million contract with then free agent starting pitcher Gerrit Cole cost them $1 million in international pool money, forcing them to cut ties with the left-handed hitter, per ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.
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The strongest part of Basallo’s game is with a bat in hand. He tore up minor league pitching ever since making his Dominican Summer League debut in 2021. In 76 games at Triple-A Norfolk this season, he hit .270/.377/.589 with 23 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 17 doubles. MLB Pipeline’s No.1-ranked catching prospect owns a .286 batting average and five RBIs in his first 15 MLB plate appearances.
Behind the dish, scouts gave Basallo’s arm strength a 70 grade out of the potential 80, per MLB Pipeline, but it’s unclear if he will remain at catcher or transition to first base full-time in future seasons. He may split time at first and designated hitter when the Orioles’ primary catcher, former first overall pick Adley Rutschman, recovers from an oblique strain that required a trip to the 10-day injured list.
“Basallo’s defensive game isn’t considered nearly as sure of a thing as his bat. He has a cannon for an arm that can help control the running game, and he moves surprisingly well behind the dish for a 6-foot-4 backstop,” Basallo’s MLB Pipeline bio reads. “Scouts like his hands and think that gives him a shot to stick, though his overall receiving and blocking continue to be a work in progress.”
A defensive comparison can be made between Basallo and Gary Sánchez when he was a catching prospect. Scouts raved about Sánchez’s arm, but he had trouble with blocking and receiving throughout his seven years with the Yankees. Ultimately, what Sánchez lacked on defense may have outweighed his hitting potential, and former Yankees manager Joe Girardi spoke openly about the need for defensive improvement.
Basallo’s extension also raises questions about Rutschman’s future with the Orioles, as he’s experienced his worst offensive season since making his Major League debut in 2021. In 85 games in 2025, the two-time All-Star owns a .227/.310/.373 slash line with nine homers and a .684 OPS. Rutschman hit 20 homers and posted a career high .809 OPS just two seasons ago.
Rutschman does not possess the same arm strength as Basallo, but ranks in the 81st percentile in pitch framing and had 10 blocks above average in 2024.
Rutschman’s oblique injury gives the Orioles some time to see if Basallo is capable of handling an MLB pitching staff and his potential at the catcher’s position, albeit in what should be a relatively small sample size. The Orioles have 35 games remaining on their regular-season schedule and are 8.5 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the third and final American League Wild Card spot.
If the Orioles’ coaching staff and front office like what they see from Basallo as a catcher, a Rutschman trade this offseason is not out of the question. However, it would be a rash decision to make, as the 27-year-old has shown offensive prowess in past seasons and still has two years remaining until reaching free agency.
Photo: Samuel Basallo during a baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
