Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 27, 2026

Samuel Basallo

Samuel Alexander Basallo 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.

Last revised
Jul 27, 2026
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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
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 17, 2025, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
(through July 22, 2026)
Batting average.220
Home runs20
Runs batted in61
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Samuel Alexander Basallo (sahm-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

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.23 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.56 In 106 games for Bowie, he slashed .289/.355/.465 with 16 home runs, 55 RBIs 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 RBIs 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 He slashed .165/.229/.330 in his first 31 MLB games to conclude the campaign.13

On June 22, 2026, Basallo was placed on the injured list for the first time in his career.1415

References

References

  1. Melewski, Steve (March 3, 2023). "He's No. 1: Catcher Samuel Basallo heads up O's international rankings". MASN. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  2. Cooper, J.J. (April 7, 2023). "Prospect Report: Orioles' Basallo Has a Smashing Debut". Baseball America. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  3. Meoli, Jon (February 28, 2023). "Orioles Hope Samuel Basallo Adds To Burgeoning International Crop". Baseball America. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  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. Rill, Jake (July 10, 2024). "Meet the 19-year-old phenom representing O's in Futures Game". MLB.com. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  6. Lyons, Taylor (June 13, 2024). "Orioles prospect Samuel Basallo, back behind the plate, is proving the hype is real". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  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. Deeds, Nick (August 22, 2025). "Orioles Extend Samuel Basallo". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  11. Schulman, Henry (2025-08-31). "Samuel Basallo hits first Major League home run". MLB.com. Retrieved 2025-12-27.
  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.
  13. Rill, Jake (2025-10-09). "Orioles confident Adley Rutschman will improve in 2026". MLB.com. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  14. Weyrich, Matt (2026-07-22). "Orioles' Basallo hits IL for first time in career with shoulder injury". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
  15. Rill, Jake (2026-07-22). "Basallo heads to IL with right shoulder inflammation; Rodríguez recalled from Norfolk". MLB.com. Retrieved 2026-07-22.
External links