Tony Mansolino casts doubt on Orioles star's hitting potential

Baltimore Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino got brutally honest when addressing one player's need to prove himself as a hitter.

Jul 2, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Baltimore Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino (36) walks back to the dugout during the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Baltimore Orioles have a lot to look forward to as a franchise in 2026. While the 2025 season didn't live up to anybody's expectations, the good news is that this squad still has a talented roster full of young and promising position players.

And given that the Orioles seem to have found a bona fide ace in Trevor Rogers, they're just a few shrewd offseason acquisitions away from turning this team back into the formidable force it was during the 2023 and 2024 regular seasons.

Read more: Orioles manager gets clear about Adley Rutschman, Samuel Basallo uncertainty

That said, Baltimore will need some of the aforementioned young and promising position players to perform up to their potential in 2026 if this team is to contend. One such player is Coby Mayo, who has posted a .208 average and a .649 OPS in 79 games played this season.

Aug 29, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Coby Mayo (16) reacts to being called out on strikes against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Mayo is a corner infielder who was the Orioles' No. 4 overall prospect in 202 and has been given the chance to earn his role on the team this season. However, he hasn't shown that he's capable of producing enough at the plate to be an everyday player for Baltimore.

Tony Mansolino Sends Blunt Message About Coby Mayo's Hitting

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino spoke with MASN's Roch Kubatko for a September 22 article. And at one point in their discussion, Mansolino got brutally honest about Mayo's need to prove himself as a hitter.

“He's got to hit,” Mansolino said of Mayo. "You've got to swing the bat. If you're a first baseman, the expectation of offense at first base is very different than the other positions. You're not gonna be a glove-first defender at first. That's not how that position works. I think he's shown signs of that, and I think at some point this kid's really, really going to hit in the big leagues in a lot of ways.

"Everybody develops at different rates, so once the bat kind of reaches its potential, is the glove good enough to play him there? Without a doubt," Mansolino added.

What to watch over the last week of the Orioles' 2025 season https://t.co/2k9K6LXbMs #orioles

— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) September 22, 2025

"I'm not stressed out when he's playing first base right now. Early when he got here, it stressed me out. I think it stressed everybody out. Your first baseman's got to be able to play defense over there. Watching him four months later, he can play some defense over there," Mansolino added.

"There are still parts of his game defensively that need to improve and he knows it and he's working his butt off in order to improve it. But it's all gonna come down to swinging the bat for the kid, and at this point that's OK. For young hitters, it takes a little bit of time," he concluded.

WHAT A PLAY BY COBY MAYO pic.twitter.com/7FDY8uDMIk

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 17, 2025

It sounds like Mansolino isn't certain about how Mayo will develop as a hitter. The 2026 season will be very telling in that regard.