Spanish
SARASOTA, Florida.– Dominican prospect Samuel Basallo continues to make an impact in Major League Baseball spring training, after hitting two home runs in the Baltimore Orioles' victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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The young 21-year-old catcher and first baseman punished the opposing pitching from the start, sending the ball out of the park in his first two at-bats of the game played at Ed Smith Stadium. His hits registered exit velocities of 106.3 and 110.6 miles per hour, confirming the power he has displayed throughout the preseason. Basallo didn't stop there and added a simple solid in the sixth inning, also with a high exit velocity, consolidating another outstanding offensive night. The Santo Domingo native has been one of the most consistent hitters in the Grapefruit League, with an impressive quality of contact. Of his first hits this spring, most have exceeded 100 miles per hour, and a large part have been extra-base hits. This performance reaffirms the potential of the Dominican player, considered one of the top prospects in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, and strengthens his candidacy to compete for the Rookie of the Year award in the American League in the 2026 season. It should be remembered that, although he had difficulties in his debut in the Major Leagues last year, the Orioles showed full confidence in his talent by signing him for an eight-year, $67 million extension. With performances like this, Samuel Basallo makes it clear that he is ready to make the definitive leap and become one of the new figures in Major League Baseball.
