Samuel Basallo -- Injury Report
Injury Report sources for Samuel Basallo of the Baltimore Orioles
Samuel Basallo returned to action Tuesday for the Baltimore Orioles against the Yankees after being held out of Monday's lineup due to left knee discomfort. He batted fifth and served as the designated hitter, indicating the team is managing his workload carefully during recovery.
Basallo's 2026 season has shown improvement compared to his 2025 struggles. In 34 games this season, he is batting .277 with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs across 119 at-bats, a significant jump from his .165 average last year. His projected 2026 season line includes 18 home runs and 54 RBIs over 369 at-bats with a .735 OPS.
From a fantasy perspective, Basallo is ranked #148 in draft rankings (ECR), with expert consensus ranging from #83 to #190 across 32 contributors. His rest-of-season ranking sits at #130, while his dynasty ranking is #49. The upcoming schedule features three games against Washington starting Friday, May 15th.
Samuel Basallo was scratched from the Orioles' Monday lineup prior to their series opener against the Yankees due to left knee discomfort. The injury was sustained Sunday during a defensive play at home plate when Basallo made a tag on Carlos Cortes while absorbing a collision, a play that helped preserve Baltimore's 2-1 victory over the A's. Basallo acknowledged expecting the play and bracing for impact, successfully holding onto the ball to end the inning.
The timing of the injury is notable given Basallo's recent offensive production. Over his last 17 games, the 21-year-old left-handed hitter has been among the team's hottest performers, hitting .397 with 23 hits in 58 at-bats, including 6 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 11 RBIs, and a 1.073 OPS. He had earned the Monday start against Yankees southpaw Ryan Weathers as the designated hitter, his original assignment before being replaced by Coby Mayo.
The Orioles will be monitoring Basallo's condition closely, as the organization has already dealt with significant injury issues this season. With 17 players having spent time on the injured list and 12 currently on the IL, Baltimore is attempting to approach full strength as it aims to improve from its 18-23 start to the 2026 season.