Samuel Basallo is the kind of player every team dreams of. Young, powerful, with a bat considered among the best of his generation, and talented enough to force an organization to adjust its plans around him. For the Baltimore Orioles, the question is no longer whether Basallo is part of their 2026 plans, but how he will be used—and at what cost.
In theory, the current plan sounds very logical. Basallo is a catcher in his original position, but Adley Rutschman has locked down the starter role behind the home plate. To maximize Basallo’s bat without putting him in direct competition, the Orioles plan to have him play most of the time as a designated hitter. This strengthens the lineup while reducing defensive pressure on the 21-year-old.
But it is here that a quiet problem begins to emerge.
When your backup catcher is also your primary head hitter, the roster becomes more fragile than you realize. Just one seemingly minor incident—Rutschman getting injured during the game and being forced off the field—and the worst-case scenario immediately becomes apparent. Basallo will have to go in as catcher, the Orioles lose their head hitter, and the pitcher might have to hold the bat for the rest of the game. In modern MLB, that’s almost like shooting yourself in the foot.
The complexity doesn’t stop there. Pete Alonso was brought in to play first base. Ryan Mountcastle, despite only playing 1B last season, is still expected to hold a spot on the bench. If the Orioles bring four bench players as is customary, dedicating a spot to a third catcher will stifle the remaining flexibility—leaving room for a backup infielder and outfielder.
This isn’t an obvious “mistake.” It’s a consequence of having too many offensive pieces on the same axis. The Orioles proactively put themselves in this situation by signing an eight-year extension to Basallo shortly after his MLB debut—a clear statement that they believed he was the long-term future.
The problem is: that future needs to be protected by a sufficiently flexible present.
Basallo has lost weight, improved his fitness, and in the long run can take on more roles on the court. But at this point, the Orioles are forced to think about backup options. Bringing in a third catcher is the simplest solution—but it makes an already crowded bench even more congested. Not bringing one? Craig Albernaz could face a “once-in-a-lifetime” moment if the pitcher has to go into the bat in a crucial game.
This is the kind of problem only teams with a lot of talent face. But it’s also the kind of problem that, if handled poorly, can be magnified into a “foolish decision” overnight. The Orioles are building a team for long-term competition, and Basallo is the cornerstone of that plan. However, how they manage him in 2026 will reveal the true extent of the organization’s readiness.
Basallo isn’t the problem. He’s the reason the problem exists.
The question hanging over the preseason is: Will the Orioles proactively address this risk from the start, or wait until an unexpected situation forces them to pay the price? In a tough race, sometimes a bench decision is just as important as a blockbuster trade.
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