O's Coby Mayo adjusted his arm slot to take his defense to a higher level

SARASOTA, Fla. – He is one of baseball’s top prospects with a very potent bat. But it is his improvements on defense that are getting noticed often in O’s camp in Florida. 

If you would have said in the winter that Mayo would get as much praise in Sarasota for his defense as for offense, that would have been a surprise.

But he’s playing a solid third base with confidence and he said he’s a much-better defender than when he was at spring camp in 2023.

“There is a big difference,” he said before Wednesday’s game.

The difference has come more from his throwing than glove-work. His throws are now more accurate and that has given him added confidence on defense. It all started last year when the big league coaching staff suggested he lower his arm slot a bit for increased accuracy. We often hear about pitchers using a different arm slot, but Mayo made a big change and dropped his arm slot to a more three-quarters type of throw.

“Since my high school days, I have gotten some critiques on my defense. I have put in a lot of work over the years and it’s nice to see people have started to notice that. Even though my bat is probably going to be ahead of my glove for most of my career, I’m trying to get it up to speed,” he said.

He's doing it.  

“Have worked some on my footwork and trying to be more athletic. And that arm angle is the biggest thing. Used to come a lot over the top and I have dropped down a little bit. Trying to show I can throw from that slot.

“I think the angle where I was at over the top was not extremely accurate and I think over the last year I have found something working for me. The ball is more accurate and has good flight to it. I have stuck with that.”

So, he confirmed that more than fielding, it’s been the more accurate throwing where the improvements really happened.

“Throwing has been the biggest improvement. If you can get your accuracy, the play should be made every time.”

When the big league coaches made the suggestion last March about his arm slot, he reported to Double-A Bowie and went to work with then Baysox fundamentals coach Tim DeJohn.

“He was in Bowie last year and I was there for a few months, and we worked every day. Even when I went up to (Triple-A) Norfolk with Buck Britton (Tides manager and former infielder) we kept working on it.”

Baseball America ranks Mayo the O’s No. 3 prospect and the No. 25 in their top 100. MLBPipeline.com ranks him No. 4 and No. 30.

Per MLBPipeline, Mayo gets a 45 fielding grade and 70 for arm strength and from BA he gets a 50 scouting grade for fielding and 70 for arm.

The O’s always knew the kid could rake but now he has become a more complete player with his improved throwing.

Between the Baysox and Tides last season, Mayo, 22, hit .290/.410/.563/.973 with 45 doubles, three triples, 29 homers and 99 RBIs. Yep, he filled up the stat sheet.

This spring he is 7-for-21 with a team-leading four doubles his five RBIs are tied for second in O’s spring games. His two-run double in the eighth Wednesday night broke a 4-4 tie as the Orioles beat Pittsburgh 6-4.

In an O’s infield filled with young talent, Mayo is holding his own and then some again this spring with his potent bat and now more accurate arm.