West Coast this, that and the other

SEATTLE – The news yesterday that Double-A Bowie catcher Samuel Basallo was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game stirred up further discussion about his standing in the Orioles organization. Specifically, how long he’ll be in it. How long he should be in it.

We should pause that topic and mention how he’s a deserving choice as the No. 2 prospect in a stacked farm system and 12^th in baseball, per MLB Pipeline’s newest rankings. He’s batting .279 with a .798 OPS, 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 34 RBIs in 69 games, and he had a double and run scored last night in Bowie’s 3-0 win over Richmond.

He’s a real weapon behind the plate, too.

Basallo has endured some health setbacks along the way, the most serious a stress fracture in his right elbow that limited his work in spring training and confined him to serving as designated hitter until April 30. The Futures Game assignment is a nice reward for his talent and perseverance.

Can he co-exist with Adley Rutschman on an Orioles roster, perhaps by 2025? Yes he can. James McCann gets plenty of work behind the plate with Rutschman’s rest consisting of DH duty. Basallo can do that and also play first base. It’s feasible. Why fight it?

Is Basallo untouchable in trade talks? That might be a slight reach but it’s going to be extremely difficult to pry him away. And no wonder.

We’ll categorize this under pleasant problems. A stud 19-year-old catcher who’s the second-best prospect in the organization and blocked by Rutschman from being the No. 1 backstop.

I seriously doubt that Mike Elias is wringing his hands over it.

Only three players on the American League team are at the Triple-A level. Coby Mayo should be the fourth but he’s excluded.

Snubs are part of the process. Happens every year, and not only in sports. Check out the Oscars. But Mayo is the No. 15 prospect in baseball and barreling toward the Orioles’ award for their top minor league player – if he still qualifies after they select his contract.

Mayo missed a month with a fractured rib but began last night slashing .304/.380/.622 with 14 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs and 48 RBIs in 245 plate appearances. He was 6-for-13 with three doubles and three homers with High-A Aberdeen during his rehab assignment.

His combined line was .313/.391/.665. And then he homered last night in his first at-bat, singled twice, walked and drove in five runs.

Yeah, feels like a snub, but maybe it’s a sign that he won’t be in the minors much longer.

The Futures Game will be played at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13 at Globe Life Field and air on MLB Network. Melanie Newman will handle play-by-play duties.

* Rutschman is expected to be the starting catcher for the American League in the All-Star Game. Balloting concludes today at noon, with starters announced at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

The first-overall draft pick in 2019 keeps climbing career charts, and some can be a tad obscure.

Rutschman’s 78 doubles are fourth-most by a catcher in his first three major league seasons behind Pittsburgh’s Jason Kendall with 95 in 1996-98, the Dodgers’ Russell Martin with 83 in 2006-08, and Atlanta’s Brian McCann with 79 in 2005-07, according to STATS.

Cleveland’s Carlos Santana and Oakland’s Kurt Suzuki had 75.

Rutschman needs two more home runs to become the ninth catcher with 50 in his first three seasons.

* Gunnar Henderson already committed to the Home Run Derby, but Anthony Santander is deserving, as well. He’s hit 22 homers, including 13 in June.

“I’d love to see him in the game,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “Can we advocate for that?”

Santander is a finalist to start among outfielders but needs to move up a spot. Yesterday’s update showed Juan Soto with 31 percent of the votes and Steven Kwan with 28, followed by Santander with 25.

“I’d love to see him in Texas, whether it’s Derby, game, both,” Hyde said. “That’s one of the better months I’ve ever seen somebody have, what he just did. The way he’s playing defense, how he’s swinging the bat. He’s got huge power, so the Derby would be right up his alley. But he’s played like an All-Star, also.”

Henderson plays every day and probably could use the rest, but he won’t be held back from swinging for the seats.

“It’s not that you don’t think about (fatigue),” Hyde said. “I want him to be as fresh as possible. I’d love for him to try to relax during those four days, as much as he can. I know it’s almost impossible when you go to the game to get a ton of rest, especially if you’re in the Derby and playing in the game. But how can you turn down that opportunity? And he deserves it and represents us so well, so we’re excited for him.”

It's helpful that the chosen players don’t need to travel afterward. The Orioles begin the second half at Globe Life Field.

Finally, they catch a break with the schedule.

“Hey, we got one,” Hyde said. “First one of the year. Yeah, that was nice.”