Baltimore Orioles sign top prospect Samuel Basallo to eight-year extension

Baltimore Orioles Samuel Basallo in action against the Houston Astros (2025)
Baltimore Orioles Samuel Basallo in action against the Houston Astros (2025)Patrick Smith/Getty Images/AFP
The Baltimore Orioles signed rookie catcher Samuel Basallo to an eight-year, $67 million contract extension on Friday.

Basallo had already been under team control for the next six years, but the new deal extends him for another two with a club option for 2034, making him an unrestricted free agent in 2035 when he'll be 30.

The deal can max out at $88.5 million, making it the largest pre-arbitration deal for a catcher in MLB history.

Basallo made his MLB debut this past weekend during the team's series against the Houston Astros.

The 21-year-old was the league's No. 1 catching prospect and No. 8 overall. 

Basallo is hitting .286 since his debut, going 4-14 at the plate with five RBI. He would've had his first home run during his debut against the Astros, but was robbed of it. 

The Dominican Republic native was slashing .270/.377.589 with 23 home runs and 67 in Triple-A this season. Basallo is currently the starting catcher for the Orioles after the team placed Adley Rutschman on the 10-day injured list with an oblique strain. 

He has at least one RBI and/or one hit in each of the three games he has been in the starting lineup for. The only time he didn't record a hit was when he was brought in during Sunday's game for a single at bat. 

Baltimore is now 4-1 since calling up Basallo and have outscored opponents 24-13.