Mayo's Late-Season Turn Puts Orioles' 2027 Hopes On His Bat

Coby Mayo enters the offseason with a clear assignment: keep hitting right-handers. The Baltimore Orioles third baseman finished the 2026 season with 24 home runs, including 16 off left-handed pitching, and plans to work on righties at TBT Training in Florida this winter. "You've got to challenge yourself in the offseason," Mayo said.

His season bottomed out in early May. A throwing error ended a May 7 loss to the Miami Marlins, and his OPS stood at .495 before the May 11 game against the New York Yankees. That night he hit a go-ahead home run. The following week he began a throwing program to clean up his arm action, and his defense at third base improved from that point.

At the same time, Orioles hitting coaches suggested Mayo move closer to the plate. The change let him lay off spin on the outer half that he had been chasing. Beginning with the May 11 game, he posted an .844 OPS and 21 home runs across 344 plate appearances. His 1.105 OPS against left-handed pitchers led the majors, and he added an .858 OPS against righties in September.

Mayo's path to that point was uneven. He moved to first base during the 2025 season, posting a .941 OPS that September, then returned to third base in spring training after Jordan Westburg's elbow injury. A fourth-round pick in 2020, he debuted at Low-A Delmarva in late 2021 after a knee injury. He also spent time in Double-A at the end of 2022 and Triple-A at the end of 2023, and he returned each time having closed gaps those levels exposed.

Colton Cowser, who has watched Mayo since their days in the minors, said the adjustments are within reach. "I think the big thing for him was getting the opportunity to adjust," Cowser said. "I think he always had the confidence in himself to turn that page, and I think the most important thing is he continued to have that confidence up here."

Mayo said he has grown used to the swings of a long season. "There's going to be so much bad that happens throughout a long career," he said. "I know that, and I don't want to let that get to me." He reported to the Orioles' fall camp this week.