Craig Albernaz Delivers Samuel Basallo Update After Leaving Orioles Game
Craig Albernaz has revealed that the Baltimore Orioles will monitor Samuel Basallo after the catcher exited the loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night in the sixth inning with right abdominal discomfort.
Basallo started the game behind the plate and faced the Blue Jays' pitching staff for two at-bats before he left. He went 0-for-2 before the discomfort forced him out of the contest. The Orioles replaced him in the sixth inning with pinch-hitter Jeremiah Jackson, who came in for Basallo and immediately contributed with an RBI single as the team adjusted their defensive alignment for the remainder of the game.
Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reported that the Orioles described the move as precautionary and confirmed that Basallo would undergo further checks the following day. Albernaz also reinforced that message after the game, noting that the team did not want to take risks with a young catcher during an early-stage medical concern.
Orioles' Samuel Basallo was pulled as a "precaution," manager Craig Albernaz says. He'll get looked at and team will know more tomorrow. https://t.co/ocIVueVVkl
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) June 6, 2026
The incident happened during a tight stretch of the game, and Basallo's exit immediately shifted Baltimore's catching duties. The 21-year-old's removal added another moment of uncertainty to Baltimore's lineup on a night where the team already rotated through in-game adjustments.
The club chose to prioritize caution, especially with a catcher who handles a demanding defensive role that requires constant physical strain throughout games. After the game, Albernaz stressed that the team did not yet view the issue as serious but still needed confirmation. He explained that the medical staff planned to examine Basallo more closely and provide clarity after additional assessment.
At the moment, no timeframe has been stated for the Dominican's return. Basallo has dealt with minor injuries in his development, including a right elbow stress fracture in the minors in 2024 that kept him out for several months.
He hasn't required an injured list placement in his short major league career, although he suffered knee discomfort following a collision at the plate earlier this year. He is one of Baltimore's best hitters and entered Friday's series opener in Toronto with a .276 average and .842 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.
Basallo's numbers since May have been even better, as he is batting .318 with a .924 OPS. He signed with the Baltimore Orioles as an international free agent in January 2021 and made his professional debut that year with the Dominican Summer League Orioles.
Basallo and the Orioles agreed to an eight-year, $67 million contract extension on August 22, 2025, and he became the youngest catcher in franchise history to hit a home run just one week later.
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This story was originally published June 6, 2026 at 7:00 AM.