The Baltimore Orioles faced tough roster decisions this spring, given their deep pool of young talent. Unfortunately for 23-year-old infielder Coby Mayo, his struggles at the plate made the choice easier. Hitting just .190 in Grapefruit League play, Mayo was optioned to minor league camp on Tuesday.
While the move may have been expected, it didn’t sit well with the young prospect. Speaking to The Baltimore Banner, Mayo expressed frustration, saying, “It obviously sucks because you feel like you’ve proven everything you needed to. If you succeed in the minors, people say you were supposed to, but if you struggle, they say you’ve fallen off. It’s kind of a lose-lose.”
Despite being a consensus top-30 prospect, Mayo’s path to a roster spot is blocked by first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and third baseman Jordan Westburg. His struggles at the plate—reaching base at a .239 clip with just three extra-base hits in 42 at-bats—likely limited his chances to earn an extended look in camp. For now, he’ll have to prove himself again at Triple-A Norfolk.