Insider Predicts Baltimore Orioles' Star Prospect Won't Make Opening Day Roster

Spring Training for the Baltimore Orioles should provide some major excitement as players in their loaded farm system will be competing for an opportunity to make the Opening Day roster.

With an already stacked team, it will be difficult for some of these prospects to break through.

However, general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde have shown their willingness to get the best players time at the next level, no matter their age.

One of these prospects looking to be on the roster when the Orioles face the Los Angeles Angels on Mar. 28 at Camden Yards is Coby Mayo.

The 22-year-old was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft and has flown through Baltimore's pipeline, making it to Triple-A in his third season of professional baseball.

Mayo is the No. 4 ranked prospect in the Orioles' farm system, slashing .279/.384/.523 with 57 home runs and 209 RBI during his minor league career.

He seems like someone poised to make his Major League debut this year, but Roch Kubatko of MASN doesn't think it will come at the beginning of the season.

"I’d be surprised if Mayo is on the Opening Day roster," he writes.

Much of that comes from the roadblocks at the positions of first and third base which he currently plays.

The Orioles will continue to use multiple players across their infield like they have in years past, but even so, Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O'Hearn will get the majority of work at first base, while Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg and Ramon Urias will rotate at third.

It'll be tough for him to get playing time if he makes the roster.

Baltimore likes to continue developing their players using their minor league affiliates and it seems like Mayo will continue to be a Triple-A player for the majority of 2024, barring an elite showing during Spring Training that forces the organization to make room for him early on.