The Baltimore Orioles’ No. 2 prospect, Coby Mayo, was sent down to Triple-A ahead of the 2025 MLB season. As a result, Mayo voiced his displeasure about being optioned to the minor leagues instead of making the Orioles’ roster before Opening Day. But with him heading back to the Norfolk Tides, he will get regular at-bats instead of sitting on the bench.
Initially, Mayo called it a “lose-lose” situation, but after receiving some backlash from Orioles fans, he has since softened his stance.
Baltimore Orioles’ Coby Mayo Apologizes for Latest Comments
On Wednesday, March 19, Mayo took to X to apologize for his comments about being sent down. The Orioles’ second-ranked prospect said, “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
The good news is that Mayo apologized and will now have the opportunity to refine his game in Triple-A to start the 2025 season. Last year with the Tides, he played in 89 games, hitting .287 with 22 home runs and 67 runs batted in, along with four stolen bases. He also finished with an on-base percentage of .364.
It will be interesting to see how Mayo performs in the minors to begin the 2025 season. He’s only 23 years old, and one reason the Orioles may have sent him down is that there is currently no room for him on the roster. It might take an injury or two for Baltimore to call him up in 2025.
In 2024, Mayo also appeared in 17 games for the Orioles, batting .098 with a .196 on-base percentage. Being sent to Triple-A could ultimately be a blessing in disguise, giving him time to develop. If Mayo struggles or gets injured, though, it could take him even longer to return to the majors — unless he is traded.