Orioles promote Basallo from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk

The Orioles are promoting their third-highest prospect and the 11th overall in minor league baseball, catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo, from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk.

Basallo, who turned 20 on August 13th, hit .289 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs with an .820 OPS. He hit his 16th home run and drove in three runs in Bowie’s loss to Erie on Sunday.

Last season, Basallo began the season with Single-A Delmarva, moved to High-A Aberdeen and ended the season with Bowie.

Basallo, who suffered a stress fracture of his right elbow last fal,l was restricted to designated hitter in Orioles’ spring training and early in the Baysox season. He appeared in the March Spring Breakout game and was the Orioles’ representative in last month’s Futures Game.

Promoting Basallo enables him to play an extra week. Bowie’s season ends on September 15th, and the Tides play through September 22nd.

News of the Basallo promotion was first reported by MASNsports.com.

Notes: The Orioles claimed right-handed pitcher Brooks Kriske, who pitched four games for them in 2021, off waivers from Cincinnati and optioned him to Norfolk. Left-handed pitcher Nick Vespi was designated for assignment … Norfolk outfielder Daniel Johnson is on the Orioles’ taxi squad for Sunday’s game while Cedric Mullins’ left quadriceps is being evaluated. Mullins left Friday’s game.