Orioles last-minute position switch for Coby Mayo highlights roster challenges

Heads were turned during the Baltimore Orioles' Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, when Gunnar Henderson shifted over to third base, and Coby Mayo was moved to shortstop.

In the aftermath of the injury to Jackson Holliday, the Orioles have flirted with the idea of Mayo playing second base, but the former fourth-rounder has minimal experience at shortstop during his professional career. Minimal in the sense that he lasted less than an inning at the position during his time in the rookie complex league in 2021.

No, the Orioles aren't planning on adding shortstop to Mayo's capable positions; the move was mostly tied to getting Henderson some work at third base. Henderson is participating in the 2026 World Baseball Classic with Team USA, and could be asked to play some third base, considering Bobby Witt Jr. is manning shortstop.

The Orioles also wanted to have some fun during spring training. Orioles' first-year manager Craig Albernaz waited until the end of the fourth inning of Saturday's game to tell Mayo that he would be moved to shortstop at the start of the fifth inning.

Orioles' spring training experiment previews an uncomfortable roster crunch

Saturday's move with Mayo and Henderson was all fun and games, but it could have foreshadowed an inevitable infield crunch that the roster will face. With Holliday and Jordan Westburg expected to open the season on the IL, roles have been figured out. Mayo will get a run at third base to open the season, and second base will likely be occupied by a combination of Blaze Alexander and Jeremiah Jackson.

Eventually, there could be a point this season where Mayo has earned the right to stay on the Major league roster even when Holliday and Westburg are healthy. Holliday is expected back before the end of April but Westburg's status is a little more unclear.

Perhaps that was the hidden incentive of giving Mayo a look at shortstop. If he can prove capable of handling shortstop in a pinch, while also being able to play the corner infield spots and second base, his versatility could be what keeps him around.