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Mayo could be the Orioles' Opening Day third baseman following an injury to Jordan Westburg (elbow), Brendan Mortensen of MASNSports.com reports.
Westburg is set to miss at least the first month of the season due to a partially torn UCL in his right elbow. Mayo was primarily a third baseman in the minors before the Orioles had him focus mostly on first base last season. However, there is a clear need at the hot corner now, so the 24-year-old is in line to return to his old position. Mayo has mostly struggled at the big-league level, but the former top prospect showed signs of life last September, slashing .301/.393/.548 with five homers.
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Orioles' Coby Mayo: Might be thrust into regular role
Rotowire
Mayo could see increased opportunity at third base for the Orioles if Jordan Westburg (oblique/elbow) has to miss time, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner reports.
Westburg is now dealing with an elbow injury in addition to an oblique strain, and his long-term status is uncertain. The Orioles had seemingly moved on last season from Mayo playing third base, preferring to use him instead at first base, but now the team could have a much larger need at the hot corner. Mayo has been getting lots of reps at third base in camp and could be the Opening Day starter there if Westburg is shelved. Blaze Alexander is also a candidate to play third base, though he could be needed at second base initially while Jackson Holliday (hand) is out. Mayo has slashed just .201/.285/.349 with a 31.2 percent strikeout rate in the majors, but he did perk up last September with regular playing time, hitting .301/.393/.548 with five homers.
Orioles' Coby Mayo: Could get reps at third early on
Rotowire
Mayo has been working out at third base early in Orioles camp and could see playing time at the position if Jordan Westburg (oblique) shifts to second base to cover for Jackson Holliday's (hand) expected absence to begin the season, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Mayo didn't see any action at third base with the big club from June on last season, focusing on first base and designated hitter instead. However, with Holliday slated to begin the season on the injured list and with offseason pickup Pete Alonso locked in as the Orioles' everyday first baseman, Mayo is being reconsidered as an option at the hot corner. The likelier scenario seems to be Blaze Alexander picking up Holliday's reps, but Mayo could change minds with a strong Grapefruit League showing.
Orioles' Coby Mayo: Could be tried at other positions
Rotowire
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said over the weekend that Mayo could play some third base and/or be tried at the corner outfield positions in 2026, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Mayo came up through the minors primarily as a third baseman, but he didn't play an inning there from June on this past season. The 24-year-old has never played the outfield in pro ball. Mayo's long-term defensive home is almost surely first base, but the Orioles are overcrowded there with Pete Alonso, Samuel Basallo and Ryan Mountcastle also around. The best thing for Mayo's fantasy prospects in 2026 would be a trade to a team where he can play regularly, but for now the Orioles are keeping their options open with where he might fit onto the major-league roster.
Mayo went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Yankees.
The rookie spoiled a combined shutout bid for the Orioles' AL East rivals when he took Paul Blackburn deep in the eighth inning. Mayo has a mediocre .694 OPS over 291 plate appearances on the season, but the 23-year-old is ending the campaign on a high note as he stakes a claim to the starting first base job in 2026, batting .410 (16-for-39) over his last 14 games with four of his 11 homers on the year.
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Orioles' Coby Mayo: Launches clutch homer
Rotowire
Mayo went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Thursday's 6-5 win over Tampa Bay.
Mayo provided the big hit for the Orioles on Thursday with his two-out, 413-foot blast off Kevin Kelly in the eighth inning to tie the game 5-5, Mayo's 10th homer of the year. He's gone 15-for-38 (.395) over his last 13 games. Overall, the 23-year-old infielder is batting .216 with a .676 OPS, 27 RBI and 28 runs scored across 284 plate appearances this season.
Mayo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Saturday in a loss to the Blue Jays.
Mayo produced what at the time seemed like a big insurance run for Baltimore when he clubbed a 403-foot solo shot in the top of the ninth inning. That tally ultimately proved to be inadequate, however, as Toronto rallied for three runs in the bottom frame for a walk-off win. Mayo nonetheless had a promising performance, as he logged his first two-hit game since Aug. 6. In the 28 contests between such efforts, he batted a meager .141 with a 38.9 percent strikeout rate.
Mayo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.
With Ryan Mountcastle drawing a start at first base and Gunnar Henderson getting a day off from playing shortstop but remaining in the lineup as the Orioles' designated hitter, Mayo will be the odd man out of the lineup. Mayo had started in each of Baltimore's last six games and went just 2-for-23, bringing his batting average down to .184 for the season.
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Orioles' Coby Mayo: Lifts homer in loss
Rotowire
Mayo went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 15-8 loss to the Giants.
Since his homer Aug. 15 versus the Astros, Mayo had gone just 4-for-39 (.103) with a 3:16 BB:K over 10 contests. The infielder was able to snap his power drought Friday, but he hasn't posted a multi-hit effort since Aug. 6 versus the Phillies. Mayo is up to six homers, 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, one stolen base and a .189/.268/.335 slash line over 60 contests this season. While his playing time has been steady this month, the lack of reliable production makes the 23-year-old tough to roster in redraft formats.
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Orioles' Coby Mayo: Back on bench Sunday
Rotowire
Mayo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Mayo took a pitch off his right hand Friday, but he was cleared to start Saturday and went 0-for-3 with a walk. The Orioles haven't indicated that Mayo experienced any setbacks, so his absence Sunday looks to be a routine rest day. The 23-year-old has held down a near-everyday role throughout August, but he's slashing just .154/.236/.277 with a 38.9 percent strikeout rate so far this month.
X-rays on Mayo's right hand came back negative after he was hit by a pitch in Friday's loss to the Astros, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Mayo took a 97-mph fastball from Bryan Abreu off his right hand in the bottom of the ninth inning. Consider him day-to-day headed into Saturday's matchup with Houston.
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Orioles' Coby Mayo: Undergoing X-rays on hand
Rotowire
Mayo will undergo X-rays on his right hand after being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday against the Astros, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Mayo was hit by a 97-mph fastball from Bryan Abreu but was able to stay in the game. Interim manager Tony Mansolino said after the Orioles' loss that he believes Mayo will be OK, but he'll still undergo scans. Mayo went 1-for-3 with one walk, the hit-by-pitch and one run scored in Friday's contest. He's slashing .201/.280/.348 with five home runs, 19 RBI, 18 runs scored and one stolen base across 182 plate appearances this season.
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