Coby Mayo had quite the outing on Florida’s East Coast, going 4-for-4 with five RBIs in the Orioles’ narrow 7-6 loss to the Astros in West Palm Beach. The Parkland, Florida native enjoyed a homecoming of sorts, playing in front of friends and family. Mayo’s standout performance included a two-run homer and three singles, boosting his spring numbers to an impressive 13-for-26 (.500) with 10 RBIs.
Reflecting on his return to familiar grounds, Mayo shared, “It was nice to play in this park finally as a professional baseball player. I was in Jupiter hundreds of times growing up and in high school.”
In other news, Chris Davis, known for his power-hitting prowess, will be inducted into the Orioles’ Hall of Fame on August 1st. Davis, who ranks sixth in team history for home runs, will join pitcher Storm Davis and longtime scout Jim Russo, who will be honored with the Herb Armstrong Award.
On the mound, manager Craig Albernaz showcased two of the Orioles’ top pitching prospects. Levi Wells, starting on Tuesday, allowed two runs over 3 2/3 innings.
Albernaz praised Wells, saying, “I love his attitude and makeup. He’s a bulldog out there, competing every single pitch.”
Meanwhile, Trey Gibson, the organization’s top minor league pitcher in 2025, gave up two runs on one hit in four innings on Monday.
Notably absent from both games were Pete Alonso, Ryan Mountcastle, Adley Rutschman, and Taylor Ward. However, Samuel Basallo, Dylan Beavers, and Colton Cowser took the field on Tuesday, with Beavers in center and Cowser in right.
José Barrero, another player with ties to Florida’s East Coast, played shortstop but went hitless in three at-bats. Barrero, who has a .182 career average in the majors, re-signed with the Orioles after a stint at Triple-A Norfolk. He expressed joy in playing alongside childhood friend Bryan Ramos, saying, “We’re from Cuba, Havana, and I’m happy to be here with him.”
Chris Davis’ Hall of Fame nod might surprise some, but his achievements speak volumes. Despite some challenging seasons following a hefty contract, Davis led the majors in home runs in 2013 and 2015. His memorable pitching performance in a 2012 victory over the Red Sox remains iconic, marking a turning point for the Orioles.
Mayo’s approach this spring has been simple yet effective: “Just swinging at the right pitches and not missing them. Those at-bats never work out in your favor when you’re missing good pitches to hit.”
His first home run of the spring was a 434-foot blast, adding to his impressive stats.
The Orioles currently hold a 7-9-2 record and are set to host the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium. Kyle Bradish will take the mound for his third start, looking to improve on his spring performance. Catch the action with Ben Wagner and Ben McDonald on the call.