Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in Arabic
Top Orioles prospect Coby Mayo has had enough of Norfolk and Triple-A ball.
Baltimore claims it has no place for him in Charm City due to its loaded infield and believes he could use more reps.
So, Virginia it is for the team’s No. 2 and the sport’s No. 14 prospect, per MLB.com’s rankings.
And that’s not sitting well with the 23-year-old.
“It definitely is difficult. It obviously sucks because you feel like you’ve proven everything you’ve needed to. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it’s quite enough,” Mayo said of starting the 2025 season in the minors, according to the Baltimore Banner. “Obviously, you go back there and if you have success it’s ‘Oh, he’s supposed to have success because he’s already proven it,’ and if he doesn’t have success it’s ‘Oh, well, obviously he’s fallen off.’ It’s kind of a lose-lose going to Norfolk.”
Organizations and prospects can have conflicting ideas when it comes to prospect development and what is best for the player.
There are certainly times in which gaining extra years of eligibility — thinking Super 2 players — is the reason for the decision, while other times it can be due to disagreements on readiness.
Mayo, a corner infielder, has spent 151 games with Triple-A Norfolk and hit. 279 with a .919 OPS. Those numbers alone show he’s mastered the league and plays a large role in why he’s a top-15 prospect.
The Orioles, though, already have Ryan Mountcastle at first base and fellow youngster Jordan Westerburg at third place, along with Ramon Urias and Ryan O’Hearn.
Baltimore could carry Mayo as a reserve, but most teams would rather stash players in the minors and allow them everyday at-bats to aid their development than play them infrequently in the majors.
“We still feel like there’s things he can work on,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said, per the Baltimore Banner. “We’re sensitive to the fact going to Triple-A is not what anybody wants to do, but it’s part of the game.”
Hyde noted that Mayo could improve defensively and can bolster his strike zone discipline.
Mayo appeared in 17 games for the Orioles last year and hit just .098 (4-for-41) with a .293 OPS. He fanned in 22 at-bats (54.6 percent).
“More reps at Triple-A, that’s what we feel he needs right now,” Hyde told the outlet. “I want guys to have confidence, for sure. It’s tough to play at this level if you don’t have big-time confidence. So I want guys to take it the right way. I want guys to prove that they should be in the big leagues by putting up a performance as well as working on things that we feel they need to work on.”
So, for now, Mayo will grind out more at-bats in the minors and wait for his call, whether it’s with Baltimore or perhaps with another team if he’s used in a trade.
