SARASOTA, Fla. – Samuel Basallo swung at the first pitch thrown today by starter Charlie Morton and sent a chopper to a vacated second base area in a live batting practice session. The 20-year-old kid was beaten by the savvy 41-year-old veteran, and it happened in the blink of an eye or the tearing of an imaginary ticket stub.
Basallo faced Morton again on the Ed Smith Stadium field, worked the count deeper and bounced again to the right side.
It was an unofficial 0-for-2 day against Morton, who was the only Oriole to take the mound. And it represented the only weak contact from Basallo so far in camp.
“It was really good, really competitive,” Basallo said via interpreter Brandon Quinones. “Obviously, someone who’s been in the big leagues for a long time. Lots of experience. But I felt really good being out there facing him.”
The top prospect in the system and 13th overall per MLB Pipeline is entertaining observers in BP – coaches, teammates, media and fans who attend the workouts. He barrels everything with a smooth but powerful left-handed swing. His size and the sounds coming off his bat are imposing.