Is it too late for a certain 23-year-old to go back to the minor leagues and regain his form? While there are examples of veterans opting for the minor league to regain their position, Coby Mayo thinks otherwise. Mayo, once a top infield prospect, has now been optioned by the Orioles to their minor league team, where he will start the season in Triple-A Norfolk. Considering his early struggles in his major league outings last year, the decision was taken; Mayo appeared in the 17 major league games last year and scored at a .294 OPS without any homers or RBIs. Yet, the question persists: is this move going to be enough to get back to the major league?
Mayo’s minor league figures say otherwise. Last year, he played a total of 89 games in Triple-A, scoring 22 runs. Expectedly, Mayo was optioned to the minor by the Orioles for 2025 – too much hue and cry from the Coral Springs native. “It is difficult. It sucks because you feel like you’ve proved everything you needed to. And sometimes, it doesn’t feel like it’s quite enough,” said Mayo over the Orioles’ decision to send him to the minors. The disappointed third baseman took it as a demotion and a lose-lose situation for him. However, he seems to be backtracking now.
Mayo went defensive with his stance after the former MLB players and analysts outcast him. Former MLB outfielder, Cameron Maybin said, “You’re in a situation where you needed to come in and impress, and you didn’t.” Yes, the previous figures are not contending enough for Mayo. Well, no he has apologized for his reaction and vowed to work harder to regain his position back.
In a statement posted on X, Mayo wrote: “The comments I made yesterday to the media after being optioned were by no means directed to the Orioles Organization or the Norfolk Tides. I will be the first to tell you I didn’t do enough this spring to break camp with the big league team. I was frustrated in the moment and things were taken out of context. As a competitor, this has lit a fire in me and I will make sure I work even harder to get back to the big leagues and help the team win games as soon as possible. I will never settle for anything less than the best version of myself.”
— Coby Mayo (@cobymayox) March 20, 2025
Coby Mayo seems to be eating humble pie now, taking the chance to rebuild from the minors to the good old days of majors appearances. So with him out of contention, how does the roster for the Orioles look now? How are their prospects for the 2025 season?
The Orioles are eyeing a good run this year
While Coby Mayo is optioned to the minor league this year, the Orioles have a few good names to proceed. So, are they on the way to go big this year? Last year was impressive for them, finishing with a 91-71 record. With Gunnar Henderson set to be back by the opening day, the Orioles can hope for a better season. Well, the youth brigade is set to shine this year for the Orioles. Take the name of Tyler O’Neill, the guy with 31 home runs from the last year is what would make the Orioles’ scoreboard active.
Ryan O’Hearn is taking the charge as a designated hitter this season. A player coming up with 15 homers and 59 RBIs from the last year is worthy enough. With that hitting lineup adding up with their farm system having players like Coby Mayo, the fans have all the reasons to bet on this team. Moreover, the Orioles this year is not only about their on-field improvements but a different experience for the fans. How? The bright orange jerseys are back with the team, along with offering a better fan experience at Camden Yards.
Fangraphs projected a 15%+ probability of a postseason run for the Orioles this year. The team is worthy of much more than that. Do you think the Orioles are fielding their best team? Share your views with us below.
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