Orioles’ new manager hints that a Coby Mayo breakout could be on the way

For the Baltimore Orioles to rebound in 2026, they are going to need more than a functional rotation that (hopefully) will be anchored by Framber Valdez. The offense was a separate problem with players up and down the lineup either getting hurt or under-performing expectations, leading the Orioles' offense to rank just 23rd by fWAR (14.1) and 24th by runs scored (677). There were a lot of guys to point blame at, but one name that sticks out strictly because of the hype around his arrival was Coby Mayo.

Mayo was considered to be one of the better hitting prospects in all of baseball before his debut, but his first look at the big leagues did not go well at all, leading to rumors that Mayo could be traded in the not-too-distant future.

Trading or just moving on from Mayo could still easily happen, but new Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz recently gave Mayo a vote of confidence heading into spring training. If Albernaz is right, Orioles fans could finally see the player they thought they were getting in 2026.

Craig Albernaz seems to still believe in Coby Mayo, for better or worse

Now, there was zero chance that Albernaz was going to trash Mayo at the Birdland Caravan, where he went on the record. The idea that Baltimore's new manager would immediately burn a bridge with Mayo at a fan event is ludicrous, and we are likely to understand his true feelings about Mayo during spring training, how much playing time he gets, and when.

However, Albernaz did seem to go out of his way to praise Mayo here. He mentioned that Mayo " is doing a lot of great work this offseason" while also noting that Mayo's hamstring injury was a lingering problem that impacted his performance last year and that he was excited to see Mayo play. Given the amount of talent that Mayo has at the plate (the guy did post back-to-back .900+ OPS seasons in the minors after all), it makes sense that Albernaz is not jumping ship immediately.

You will notice, though, that the one thing Albernaz didn't do was automatically give Mayo a roster spot. The Orioles' signing of Pete Alonso took the most obvious roster fit off the table and almost certainly has Mayo entering spring training on thin ice, even if Albernaz is telling the truth here. It is on Mayo to perform this spring to salvage his career, but at least his new manager seems to be rooting for him.