Praise keeps coming to Basallo, González an overnight sensation at 33, Vavra's very happy returns

SARASOTA, Fla. – Samuel Basallo won’t make the club out of spring training. He never stood a chance. He didn’t report thinking that it could happen. That isn’t why he’s here again.

The Orioles want Basallo to experience a full slate of workouts after he reported last February with a stress fracture in his elbow. They want to keep him near Adley Rutschman and Gary Sánchez, bench coach and former catcher Robinson Chirinos and catching instructor Tim Cossins, absorbing as much as he can hold.

“I want him to get the experience of major league camp,” manager Brandon Hyde said yesterday. “Last year, he was here but he wasn’t playing, so getting into some major league spring training games behind the plate, getting at-bats against major league spring training arms. And just kind of soaking it in a little bit.

“And then being in groups with the guys he’s in groups with that are having good seasons in the major leagues. Just him being around and taking it all in. He’s getting a lot of at-bats. I’m going to play him.”

Basallo is receiving the most attention in the first week of anyone who isn’t competing for a job. He’s one of the top prospects in baseball and he’s only 20 years old, so he wasn’t going to sneak in and out each day. But his batting practices, work behind the plate, size and maturity also get him noticed.

Let’s start with the first one.

Co-hitting coach Sherman Johnson, also the upper-level hitting coordinator, was asked about Basallo’s batting practice sessions.

“I wouldn’t recommend standing behind the fence in right-center or dead center. Or left-center for that matter. But it’s been really fun,” Johnson said.

“He’s obviously a monster. I’ve seen him now since he was 18, maybe even 17. First time I went to the Dominican and saw him and he was hitting home runs there, and I was like, ‘Oh boy.’ So it’s fun. I don’t like to comp guys yet, but I think he’s got a chance to be really special.”

Basallo’s defense keeps getting better and is hushing talk that he might need to move to first base in a full-time role.

“This is the first time I’ve seen him catch. I’ve been impressed,” Hyde said.

“The size is obvious, but just how easy he does things. How easy he throws, how easy he receives. And for 20 years old to be this advanced is incredibly impressive.”

To be advanced isn’t only for the fields and cages, which brings us to his makeup.

“When we had our one-on-one with him, he walked out of the room and I looked at Robby and I go, ‘That’s really impressive,’” Hyde said. “It was really mature. He’s got a really good head on his shoulders and understands kind of his strengths and maybe some things he needs to work on. I have been impressed with how mature he’s been.”

“It’s hard to believe he’s still the age that he is,” Johnson said. “He’s still very young, but obviously the body has filled out. The mentality has changed. He’s a lot more patient now. It’s good. I really enjoy where he’s at.

“I was just actually talking with him and he was talking to me like I was talking when I was 28 and almost at the end of my career, so I’m really proud of him and the progress that he’s made.”

The baseball IQ also is woven into it.

“Just how he sees the game. He sees it like he’s played multiple years of winter ball and knows how pitchers are going to pitch him in Triple-A,” Johnson said.

“I remember in Double-A when he first got there in ’23, I was kind of worried. I was like, I’m gonna have to hold his hand through this scouting report. He’s like, ‘I know how the lefty’s going to pitch me.’ And I was just like, ‘What? OK. You started in low A this year, you know?’ So I was like, ‘Run me through it,’ and he did, and I was like, OK, maybe I just need to make sure and tighten up the edge, but he's pretty good. So I’m impressed with him for sure. He’s really smart.”

* Reliever Luis González is a rookie at age 33 and he can appreciate that it’s not the norm. He’s in camp hoping to be a fourth left-hander in the bullpen with Cionel Pérez, Gregory Soto and Keegan Akin.

Seems like a long shot, but he wasn’t expected to finally make the 40-man roster in the fall. His career has taken a few interesting turns.

“It’s a huge step in my career, although it took me far too long,” González said yesterday via interpreter Brandon Quinones. “But it is a really big step in my career.”

His professional career began in 2010 after signing with the Phillies. The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract in July 2013 and he made it to Triple-A five years later. The Giants signed him in 2021, the Orioles got him back in 2023 and they decided in November to protect him in the Rule 5 draft.

The 4.50 ERA in 44 games with Norfolk didn’t impress, but he struck out 71 batters in 60 innings and walked only 12. The Orioles didn’t want to risk losing him.

“I know that there’s many at this age who have had big league careers, but I think also it says a lot that at this age you still can play and you can contribute,” González said. “I think it says a lot about the organization also giving you a chance at this age to be able to go out there and play and perform.”

Adding to the uniqueness is how González returned to the Orioles after playing in the Dominican Republic, Japan and Italy.

“It feels different and it feels that I’m a lot closer this time,” González said.

“Before I felt like there was a wall, but now it feels like I got past that being here my second time around. But ultimately, we’ll see what their decision is when the time comes.”

* Infielder Terrin Vavra also found his way back to the Orioles, who traded for him in an Aug. 30, 2020 deal that sent reliever Mychal Givens to the Rockies. The Mariners selected him off waivers in August 2024 and the Orioles signed him twice as a free agent – the last time on Feb. 5.

“I’m pretty comfortable with this organization and obviously there’s great people here and I’m really fortunate to have the opportunity to come back,” he said. “There’s something nice about being familiar. There are a lot of people who know me and trust me in this organization and I trust them, and I think that is a positive and something that I’m excited about.”

Vavra is in good health, which is noteworthy because injuries have impacted his career after he broke camp with the team in 2023. He underwent shoulder surgery later that year after the Orioles optioned him to Norfolk and suffered a groin injury last summer.

“This offseason, it was really nice to be able to go at it as usual,” he said. “Last year I was obviously rehabbing and in a different spot, and I’m excited to have had a good chunk of time to be able to work on the craft and get the body right and ready to go for a full season.

“The shoulder surgery was obviously a big bummer but it’s all part of God’s plan and I’m just excited to be on the other side of it now.”

Vavra, 27, is on the same team as previously but it’s undergoing changes as more infield prospects are promoted.

“In 2023, a thing looming over the room was a lack of experience, and now this organization is on the other side of it where it has young guys who have a full season in the big leagues under their belt,” said Vavra, who’s out of options. “I think that’s super exciting for the direction that the team’s going. Obviously, from my standpoint, it’s a little tougher to crack the code, so to speak, but it’s something, I’ve played with these guys my entire career and it’s something I’ve looked forward to keep doing.

“Whether it’s an option to be a depth guy later on in the year, I know that role and that opportunity is super important and super valuable, so try to be ready for whatever it shakes out to be and make the most of it.”