Mayo arrives as latest young Orioles prospect to reach the majors

CLEVELAND – Coby Mayo had his suspicions.

He was told to get his passport sent to him, but that’s common among the Triple-A players. Everyone is supposed to keep it handy. Norfolk manager Buck Britton removed him from the game in the eighth inning. A big lead, though, so perhaps it meant nothing. Mayo didn’t want to make assumptions.

“He told me that I had six at-bats and it was a long game and he just wanted to get me off my feet,” Mayo said this afternoon, back on his feet at his clubhouse locker at Progressive Field. “You always want to speculate a little bit, but you never want to get too ahead of yourself.”

Did he?

“Of course,” he said, eliciting laughter in his first media scrum as a major leaguer.

The Orioles selected Mayo’s contract earlier today and he’s starting at third base against the Guardians. The long-awaited debut is happening. Fans have rejoiced on social media since late last night.

“Honestly, it feels like a dream because I’ve seen so many guys in the same spot and kind of like living through their experience a little bit,” he said, “and then it happens and just a dream come true.”

Jordan Westburg’s fractured hand enabled Mayo to break through any remaining blockages that kept him from debuting. The Orioles already lost Jorge Mateo to a dislocated left elbow. Westburg was the primary third baseman, a role that Mayo is inheriting.

“I really didn’t know because I wasn’t playing much third base before the injury,” he said. “I really wasn’t sure. I just knew I had to be ready when my name was called.”

The start at third base is a sneak preview. Manager Brandon Hyde is giving him an extended audition.

Mayo will play the hot corner “quite a bit,” Hyde said. “Give him an opportunity. I’m hoping the bat can really help us and we’ll see how it goes.”

It’s always about the bat with Mayo, who slugged his way onto the roster. He took a lot of swings to get here.

“We’re excited about the offensive potential and what he can possibly bring to our lineup,” Hyde said. “We’re excited to have him. But this is part of the game a little bit, especially this time of the year, when trade deadline things happen and the roster shuffles a little bit at times. We’ve got some new faces in the clubhouse and we’re looking forward to taking these guys with us going forward.”

The club’s social media team posted video of Britton informing Mayo of his pending trip to Cleveland. News broke of the promotion before Britton had delivered the message, with family members getting an early start on the celebration.

“My phone started blowing up when I was in Buck’s office. I think they knew before I did,” said Mayo, who’s wearing uniform No. 16.

“In all seriousness, it was awesome. I think they’ve been waiting for that for a while. The minute I FaceTimed my family in the group chat they were just, I couldn’t even tell them, they already knew. They were just screaming. A really special moment for my family.

“I had the chills then and I have them right now. A really special moment. Can’t really put it into words. I was talking to my girlfriend this morning, like, being in first grade and writing that I wanted to play in the major leagues, and it’s a reality now. The moment I step on that field and the game starts is when the dream comes true. I honestly think that I was really determined at a young age to be where I’m at today, and it’s showing now.”

The Mayo clan will be heard tonight in the stands.

“They got here before I did today,” he said. “They’re excited, and it should be a fun few days.”

Teammates have been generous with their advice to Mayo, who performed defensive drills this afternoon in front of the dugout. The tarp covered the field after an afternoon storm, the sun drying it as Mayo gloved ground balls to his left and right.

“I’ve talked to some guys that have been up here,” he said. “Just nothing but positive things about this clubhouse and about the group and the coaching staff. Just really excited for this moment.”

Gunnar Henderson told him to "just enjoy the experience." Message received.

“It’s kind of hard to in the moment because you just want to play well," Henderson said, "but you only get to debut once, so really just soak in the moment and try to make the most of it.”

Mayo, 22, brings the average age of tonight’s starting infield to 23 years and 169 days, the fifth-youngest in club history, per STATS. The infield on Sept. 28, 1958 averaged 22 years and 47 days with Ron Hansen (20), Brooks Robinson (21), Jerry Adair (21) and Bob Hale (24).

Three consecutive lineups posted in September 1956 against the Senators had infields averaging 22 years and 294 or 295 days.

“It’s a little unique, especially the position we’re in, but they’re really talented guys,” Hyde said. “We hope that the talent can rise up. This is a really, really tough game to play, especially this level, especially this time of year with pressure and everything that goes along with it. Hopefully these guys can relax and let their talent take over.”

“It’s just a testament to the talent the Orioles have brought in,” Henderson said. “It’s just really good guys outside of being really good ballplayers, and that’s just a testament to the player development as well as getting us ready for the big leagues and really looking forward to sharing the infield with him.

“I haven’t shared the field too many times with him, but the times that I have he’s got unreal power and his hit tool has come around a lot and it’s been really fun to watch and I really enjoy getting to play the field with him.”

Holliday, 20, rejoined the Orioles on Wednesday and hit his first major league home run, a grand slam onto Eutaw St. Holliday is at second base, with Henderson at shortstop and Ryan Mountcastle at first base.

“I think it’s been at least in the top of my mind since he got the first opportunity,” Mayo said of teaming with Holliday in the majors. “I want to be up there with him and play with him because he’s a special player, a really good teammate, someone I can always rely on to talk to about hitting and fielding and just outside of baseball life, because baseball isn’t the only thing that is in my life. Sometimes, you just need to talk to somebody. He’s a friend I can go to and talk to.”

“I’m pumped to have him up here, obviously,” Holliday said. “Heston (Kjerstad) was one of my buddies and got to spend time playing with him, and he gets sent down, but to have Coby here, it’s awesome and I’m so happy for him.”

“I think his game is going to translate extremely well, so I’m excited.”

Mayo was expected to be reassigned to minor league camp in spring training but Holliday’s name appearing on the cut list came as a bit of a surprise. Other prospects, including Kjerstad, Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby, also went to Twin Lakes Park.

“I thought we had a great group down in Norfolk after spring training ended,” Mayo said. “I think we all pushed each other a little bit to get better. It was a real fun group, we had a lot of fun. Quickly guys were getting called up, and you wanted it to be you next.”

The Orioles kept preaching patience with Mayo, the message delivered as he piled up the Triple-A stats. He was batting .301 with 22 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, 61 RBIs and a .961 OPS after last night’s game, with a month lost to a rib injury.

“I mean, this team has been in first place all year long, so why would you change something that’s working really well?” he said. “They have a really good roster, a really good defensive team, a really good offensive team, a really good pitching staff. So it’s like, why fix what isn’t broken? I completely understand all of that and I’m just really happy that I’m here right now.

“I just think from my experience at big league camp the last two years has put me in a good position to be the best Major League Baseball player that I can be. When I can, I’m always watching a big league game. It was terrible to see Westburg get hurt, somebody that I’ve watched all year. He’s one of the best right now in the game at third base, a really good hitter with runners in scoring position and just someone that I’m trying to emulate my game after right now.”

The Orioles gladly will settle for Mayo just being himself.

“I’m not looking for him to replace Jordan Westburg,” Hyde said. “Jordan Westburg was an All-Star and middle of the order and played two positions extremely well. He got huge hits for us. I really just want Coby to be himself and try to just help and try to take the best at-bats he possibly can, catch the ball that’s at him and not try to do too much, but just try to contribute to a winning team.

“We’re lucky that we have so many talented guys in our system here the last couple years that put the numbers up down there to put themselves in position to come help us.”

Henderson made his major league debut in Cleveland on Aug 31, 2022. He had two hits, including a home run.

“It definitely brings back memories every time I come to this ballpark,” he said. “It was really cool to experience it last year for the first time since the debut, kind of a special place to me.

“He’s very well deserving of it. He’s been playing unreal at Triple-A and looking forward to him coming up here and do the same thing.”