Here’s what I said when he was called up, “Am I the only one mad that MLB teams hold back their rookies, manipulating their service time? The funny thing about my anger when it pertains to baseball is that dissipates by the time I’m into the next sentence. What was I mad about out again? Oh, yeah, Samuel Basallo just now being called up when he was ready since June! Ugh! And the wave of anger slides away from me like the tide. He had 23 homers and a .270 average in Triple-A and I’m so angry again! Meh, I guess he’s called up now. Adley Rutschman was injured earlier this year, Basallo could’ve been called up months ago, ugh, fighting away anger!!! I guess Adley was going to return and the O’s weren’t playing for anything since April. Basallo went 19/10/.278 last year as a 19-year-old clearly ready since April, you jerk offs!!! But I guess that was mostly in Double-A and the leap to the majors is rather big. He could’ve DH’d at least, what is wrong with this system???!!! Though, I guess they signed Tyler O’Neil. Who sucked?! I would grab Basallo in every league where you need a catcher. He’s been ready, while they played Alex Jackson, WTF! Basallo was able to hit well even in his first game. But he had a home run robbed!!! Now chill. Now mad! Chill. Mad!” And that’s me quoting me! His numbers there are so goofy. At 19, he had 19 homers and 23 homers at 20, and will hit 27 at 21. That’s just how math works! Seriously, though. 23 homers in Triple-A at 20, and to hold him down? What is 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 2026 fantasy baseball?
In 2026, expect: Ball murder! The Killing (Ball)Fields starring Sam Waterston and Samuel Basallo? Okay, first, Samuel Basallo had 20 games started at catcher, so high five catcher eligibility, you glorious beast, SamBas, you will be a catcher for 2026, at least. The other good news is I’d be shocked if he doesn’t get at least 20 more games played behind the plate this year. In fact (Grey’s got more), O’s should trade Adley for any half-decent arm and move on to Basallo full-time, but, even if they don’t, Basallo will DH and backup Adley. In the majors, he hit four homers and .165. The elephant in the room that he hit .165 in his 109 ABs is one of those tiny elephants they have in Indonesia that would only crush your foot with cuteness. That .165 average is overlookable (totally a word). Small sample and his BABIP was .187, which is bad for undercover cops and batting luck. Let’s gander:
SAMUEL BASALLO’S FIRST CAMDEN YARDS HOME RUN IS A WALK-OFF pic.twitter.com/AYoEIvgo1e
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 6, 2025
And:
FORE ? pic.twitter.com/Rx7l8d3YvI
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 17, 2025
The second one is such a goofy swing (and homer), that it makes me think maybe he is neutrally a .187 BABIP guy. He’s not, I kid, but that swing has no business doing business. In the majors, his perfs were 5.1 BB% and 25.4 K%, which honestly isn’t too bad for a guy with 30+ homer power. He kinda reminds me of Junior Caminero with catcher eligibility. Call him Junior Catchero. Though, slightly unfair to Caminero’s contact. Basallo might be more of a .245 hitter at 21. I added “at 21,” because this guy’s a freakin’ amoeba. He’s not fully formed at all. Basallo’s an amorphous blob waiting to take shape. If he had a 21 K% at 21 this year, I wouldn’t be shocked, and then next year I will make the dopey joke he’ll have 22% at 22, and I will continue to do that in perpetuity until someone whacks me in the head. Or until he hits .320 as a 24-year-old with a 15 K% and becomes a superstar.
That about covers Samuel Basallo (in glory). Oh, he even stole nine bags in Double-A in ’24, and maybe The Naylor-27 gives him 40 steals, but I wouldn’t count on more than three as he is not fast at all, and catchers in Double-A throw the ball to 2nd on steals through a cut-off at the mound. His nine steals in Double-A was not 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 them. Count on power from a catcher, and hope you get other yum-yums. For 2026 fantasy baseball, I’ll give Samuel Basallo projections of 51/26/62/.241/1 in 413 ABs with a chance for more.
Of course the Fabled Master Lothario is correct. Only a nit picker would mention that Basallo will pick up first base eligibility fairly soon. That is my nit from a nut.