Baltimore Orioles third base prospect Coby Mayo continues to excel as he works his way up through the organization.
So far in 2023, Mayo is batting .256/.360/.512 with six RBIs, three home runs and five walks in 11 games at Double-A Bowie entering play April 20.
“I think this year I’m settled in and really confident,” Mayo said on Glenn Clark Radio April 13. “I think being confident in the box is really key for me — saying I’m better than you. Looking to the pitcher, ‘I’m better than you, I’m going to get you. If you get me out this time, you’re not going to get me out next time.’ That kind of mentality has been working.”
In 2022, Mayo had a very successful campaign at High-A Aberdeen, leading to his promotion to Baysox at the end of June in just his second full season in professional baseball. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound third baseman hit .251/.326/.494 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs in 68 games with the IronBirds.
But after three games with the Baysox, Mayo suffered a back injury which caused him to miss a month. He went back to Aberdeen for a few games as part of a rehab stint but struggled some when he rejoined the Baysox roster.
Overall, Mayo played 34 games for the Baysox in the 2022 season, hitting .250/.331/.398 with five home runs and 20 RBIs. Now the 21-year-old is back in Bowie.
“Every year you learn more and more and the Orioles do a good job of helping you with just becoming a better baseball player and with getting stronger and learning how to use your body with the hitting, just everything,” Mayo said. “I’ve been feeling good.”
Mayo was selected by the Orioles as a fourth-round pick out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the 2020 MLB Draft. In three minor league seasons, he is batting .269/.359/.489 with 165 hits, 31 home runs, 116 RBIs and 74 walks. Mayo also can be a threat on the base paths, with 16 steals.
Mayo is also known for his hard and loud contact in the batter box. His first home run this season was hit at 105 mph off the bat.
“I think you’ve got to take advantage of the pitches you get that are in the strike zone,” Mayo said. “Hitting is the hardest thing in all of sports. You’ve got make it simple and you’ve got to take advantage of the pitches in the zone and you’ve got to do something great with it.”
Mayo still finds time to play video games with his teammates or with his friends back home on a day off.
“You definitely need a day out of the week just to say, ‘Hey I’m not going to think about baseball, take care of my body for the day and play some video games and have fun with friends,'” Mayo said.
For more from Mayo, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Joseph Noyes