Samuel Basallo's injury led Orioles fans down a dark spring training path

Baltimore Orioles fans saw how quickly an outlook could change during Thursday's spring training game against the Detroit Tigers. Samuel Basallo, getting some work in behind the plate, was removed from the game after suffering an apparent injury during a play at the plate.

Fresh off handing Basallo an eight-year extension at the end of last season, the idea of him starting the 2026 season on the injured list was a scary thought.

Fortunately, it sounds like Orioles' first-year manager, Craig Albernaz, was taking an overly cautious approach. Albernaz confirmed that Basallo could have stayed in the game under different circumstances, and there wasn't a need for further imaging.

“It’s Feb. 26, saw his reaction, goes down,” Albernaz told reporters. “To me, he could have stayed in the game, but that was me being the voice of reason to get him out of there and make sure everything was fine.”

You'll have to forgive Orioles fans if they don't necessarily believe those words. It was just last year that the Orioles said everything was fine with Grayson Rodriguez's ramp-up, and he wound up missing the entire 2026 season.

Orioles fans know spring training injuries can change quickly

In case there was any doubt, Basallo was spotted on Friday in his catcher's gear and preparing to participate in the team's workout.

The fan reaction to the initial Basallo injury update speaks to the reality that the Orioles are not given the benefit of the doubt when providing injury updates.The way the Orioles handled Rodriguez's updates last year clearly has left an impression on the fans. Rightfully so, considering each update seemed to add another layer of confusion to his status.

Fortunately, Basallo is already back on the field and this injury scare can be forgotten. This may have been a reminder, however, of why the Orioles are keeping Ryan Mountcastle around.

In the event of an injury to Basallo, with Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg already sidelined, Mountcastle becomes an important bat to have on the bench--or potentially slide into the role of the team's designated hitter. His long-term future still may not be in Baltimore, but he still serves a purpose for the current construction of the Orioles' roster.