On June 27, 2025, the O’s (35–46) faced the Rays (46–36), their division rivals. This was a classic underdog matchup. Baseball enthusiasts thought the Baltimore Orioles would come up short, but they astonished everyone by winning 22–8. And amid all this, a rookie’s home run made headlines. But instead of praise, it was questioned.

The Orioles had the momentum. And then in the bottom of the 8th inning, this 23-year-old hit his first career homer. But the twist was on the mound. It was Rays’ shortstop, Jose Caballero. Yep, a position player! Once the news got out, veteran voices got louder, asking if a milestone earned against a position player was a great MLB feat?

The rookie under the crossfire is Coby Mayo, signed with the Orioles in a one-year contract of $760,000. The crashing sound of that 412-foot explosion reached MLB veteran Jeffrey Dustin Frye. Frye, who used to be a 2B for the Rangers, Red Sox, Rockies, and Blue Jays, became a player agent right away. He wrote his thoughts on X, “How disappointing that this young man worked his entire life… his 1st @MLB HR comes off a position player! The game is definitely not better! ‘If you can’t see it’s watered down it’s because you’re not looking!’”

First homers are special, not just another stat. But when it comes against a positional pitcher, some think the moment and maybe even the game itself is weakening. Well, he was not the only one.

Another veteran, a Hall of Famer, stepped in, agreeing to the same. Mike Piazza commented, “I just don’t understand… in 20 plus seasons of major, minor and winter league ball.. I have never faced a position player as pitcher.. Except Felix Rodriguez who started as a catcher and Tommy converted him to a pitcher who threw 97..” 

Well, the numbers back it up. Since 2014, teams have used position players as pitchers at least 23 times per season, peaking at 112 times in 2021. In that season, these pitchers had a 9.59 ERA and allowed a .306 opponent batting average. This leads to questions about the significance of home runs hit off them.

For Frye and Piazza, keeping baseball true to its roots is very important. But for Baltimore, Mayo could be the spark they need to get their offense going again.

Critics roar, but Mayo’s power may be the Orioles’ missing piece

That electrifying 412-foot shot may raise eyebrows. But there’s reason to believe Mayo is far more than a stunning footnote. He has started to find his swing lately, hitting 6-for-23 (.261) with a good .391 slugging percentage over his previous seven games. This is a big leap from his .186 average throughout the first 30 games.

Right-handed hitters are Baltimore’s offense’s weakness, with a .211 average and .573 OPS against left-handed pitchers. And Mayo’s recent rise is important because it means he could help keep the team stable.

In addition to his growing confidence, his pedigree gives optimism. Mayo has won the Eastern League MVP award twice and has hit more than 20 home runs every year in Triple-A. He has enough experience to think that his power can carry over, especially now that he’s working on breaking balls. Because of what he did in the minor leagues, scouts still think he might be a long-term solution.

While veterans are frustrated by the circumstances of his home run, the bigger picture is clear: This isn’t just a one-time event. Mayo’s recent progress at the plate and his track record in the minors suggest he could be the key to restoring Baltimore’s right-handed power and reversing their decline in 2025.