29
Samuel Basallo
C / 1B · Baltimore Orioles
Born Aug. 13, 2004 · Santo Domingo, DR
Pronunciation sahm-WELL bah-SY-yo
Ht/Wt 6'4" · 250 lbs
Bats/Throws Left / Right
Signed 2021 · $1.3M bonus · BAL
Debut Aug. 17, 2025 · Age 21
2024 Futures Game
8-Year Extension (2033)
Youngest C in MLB (2025)
91.4 mph Exit Velo
Walk-off HR on debut week
2026 Season Stats
| G | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | HR | RBI | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Live via MLB Stats API · 2026 Statcast: 91.4 mph exit velocity · 45.6% hard hit · .330 wOBA
Samuel Basallo is 21 years old and already posting the best slugging season ever by a catcher under age 22 in MLB history. He signed with the Orioles out of the Dominican Republic for $1.3 million in 2021, flew through the minor leagues as the youngest player at Double-A and Triple-A in the same year, and debuted on August 17, 2025 — four days after his 21st birthday. In his debut week at Camden Yards he hit a walk-off home run, becoming the youngest player in Orioles history (since 1954) to hit a walk-off homer, passing Cal Ripken Jr. The Orioles locked him up for eight years before he had completed his first big league month.
Contract
Extension
8 Years
Signed Aug. 22, 2025
Through
2033
+ club option 2034
Age at FA
29
If no option picked up
Career Stats
| Year | Level | G | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (AA) | Bowie | 106 | .289 | .355 | .465 | 16 | 55 |
| 2024 (AAA) | Norfolk | 21 | .207 | .284 | .431 | 5 | 15 |
| 2025 (AAA) | Norfolk | 76 | .270 | .377 | .589 | 23 | 67 |
| 2025 (MLB) | BAL | 31 | .165 | .229 | .330 | 4 | 15 |
| 2026 ★ | BAL | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Source: Baseball-Reference · MLB.com
BSF Coverage
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By The Numbers
| 2026 Exit Velocity | 91.4 mph |
| 2026 Hard Hit % | 45.6% |
| 2026 wOBA | .330 |
| 2025 AAA SLG | .589 |
| 2025 AAA HR | 23 (76 games) |
| Age at MLB debut | 21 (youngest C in MLB) |
| Signing bonus (2021) | $1.3M (Dominican) |
| Extension through | 2033 (+ option) |
The Road Up
Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2021. Played in the DSL in 2022, FCL in 2023, then skipped High-A entirely — going from Low-A to Double-A Bowie in 2024. Was the second-youngest qualified hitter at Double-A that season, then the youngest hitter with 80+ plate appearances at Triple-A. Promoted to the majors in August 2025 and signed to an eight-year extension five days later. The Orioles have never moved faster to lock up a prospect.
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