This is what I said when he was called up: “Am I the only one angry that MLB teams are holding back their rookies and manipulating their service time? The funny thing about my anger when it comes to baseball is that it disappears by the time I get to the next sentence. What was I angry about again? Oh, yeah, Samuel Basallo just now being called up even though he had been ready since June! Ugh! And the wave of anger slips away from me like the tide. He had 23 home runs and a .270 average in Triple-A and I’m so angry again! Meh, I think he’s getting a call now. Adley Rutschman was injured earlier this year, Basallo could have been called up months ago, ugh, fighting off anger!!! I think Adley would return and the O’s haven’t played for anything since April. Basallo went 19/10/.278 last year as a 19 year old and has clearly been done since April, assholes!!! But I think that was mainly in Double-A and the jump to the majors is quite big. He could have at least been DH’d, what’s wrong with this system???!!! But I think they signed Tyler O’Neil. Who kissed?! I would take Basallo in any league where you need a catcher. He was ready, as they played Alex Jackson, WTF! Basallo could hit well even in his first game. But he was robbed of a home run!!! Now chill. Angry now! Chill. Angry!” And that’s me quoting me! His numbers there are so crazy. At 19, he had 19 home runs and 23 home runs at 20, and at 21 he’ll hit 27. That’s just how math works! But seriously. 23 home runs in Triple-A at 20, and holding him back? What’s literally the point? This is stupid. I’m getting mad again. [breathes in and out] Okay, let’s move on before my ulcer labeled “prospect manipulation” flares up. So, what can we expect from Samuel Basallo for fantasy baseball in 2026?
Expected in 2026: Ball Murder! The Killing (Ball)Fields with Sam Waterston and Samuel Basallo? Okay, first of all, Samuel Basallo had started 20 games at catcher, so you’re eligible for a high five catcher, you glorious beast, SamBas, you’ll at least be a catcher before 2026. The other good news is that I’d be shocked if he doesn’t get at least 20 more games behind the plate this year. In fact (Gray has more) the O’s should trade Adley for a half-decent arm and move to Basallo full-time, but even if they don’t, Basallo will DH and back up Adley. In the majors he hit four home runs and .165. The elephant in the room that he hit with his 109 AB’s .165 is one of those little elephants they have in Indonesia that would just crush your foot with cuteness. That average of .165 is overlooked (completely a word). Small sample size and his BABIP was .187, which is bad for undercover agents and batting luck. Let’s take a look:
SAMUEL BASALLO’S FIRST CAMDEN YARDS HOME RUN IS A WALK-OFF pic.twitter.com/AYoEIvgo1e
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 6, 2025
And:
FOR? pic.twitter.com/Rx7l8d3YvI
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 17, 2025
The second is such a crazy swing (and homer) that I think he might neutrally be a .187 BABIP guy. He ain’t, boy, but that swing ain’t got no business. In the majors, his performances were 5.1 BB% and 25.4 K%, which honestly isn’t that bad for someone with 30+ home runs. He reminds me a bit of Junior Caminero with catcher eligibility. Call him Junior Catchero. Although, somewhat unfair to Caminero’s contact. Basallo might be more of a .245 hitter at age 21. I added “at age 21” because this guy is a fucking amoeba. He’s not fully formed at all. Basallo is an amorphous blob waiting to take shape. If he had a 21,000% rate this year at age 21, I wouldn’t be shocked, and next year I’ll make the stupid joke that he’ll have 22% at age 22, and I’ll do that for all eternity until someone hits me in the head. Or until he hits .320 with a 15 K% as a 24 year old and becomes a superstar.
That includes about Samuel Basallo (in glory). Oh, he even stole nine bags in Double-A in ’24, and maybe Naylor-27 gives him 40 steals, but I wouldn’t count on more than three because he’s not fast at all, and catchers in Double-A throw the ball to second in steals due to a cutoff on the mound. His nine steals in Double-A weren’t a real number. That’s not to say he can’t steal bags, because with the pitch clock anyone can, but I wouldn’t count on it. Count on the power of a catcher and hope you get more yum-yums. For 2026 fantasy baseball, I’m giving Samuel Basallo projections of 51/26/62/.241/1 in 413 ABs with a chance for more.
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