SARASOTA, Fla. — Baltimore Sun Orioles reporter Jacob Calvin Meyer will answer fans’ questions throughout Orioles spring training and the season. Here are JCM’s thoughts on several questions from readers:

Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity. Email jameyer@baltsun.com with questions for next Friday’s mailbag.

What do you think about the Coby Mayo situation? — Nicholas from Buffalo, NY

The reaction from some in the fan base was surprising, and so was the fact that Mayo felt the need to (or was compelled to by his agent or the organization) walk back his quotes afterward with a statement posted on X.

Mayo spoke with the media at his locker seemingly just minutes after he was informed that he’d been cut from the spring training roster. Many players choose not to answer questions in that scenario. Mayo was then honest, unlike many players, about his disappointment, and he expressed that in a professional manner. These players aren’t robots. They’re human beings with ambitions and pressures and emotions. Mayo wants to be a big leaguer. What’s wrong with that?

What nonprospect minor leaguers do you think will have the biggest impact on the MLB team throughout the year? — @CRBiv14 on XThis is a fun one. The most likely answer is no one. But what’s the fun in that?

If by “nonprospect” you mean a player who has already played in the major leagues, here are some names I’ll be keeping my eye on to begin the season: relievers Dylan Coleman and Colin Selby, utilityman Nick Gordon, corner infielder Emmanuel Rivera and shortstop Luis Vázquez.

Coleman had success with the Royals in 2022 (2.78 ERA in 68 innings), but he’s had trouble finding the zone since. It wouldn’t be the first time that the Orioles have taken a reliever with great stuff and helped him find his command. Selby was a surprise inclusion on Baltimore’s postseason roster in October, and he dominated the minors to end 2024. Gordon is on this list for his versatility if injuries befall the Orioles, and he was a valuable player for the Twins two years ago. Rivera could be ahead of Mayo in the pecking order to begin the season if the Orioles need a corner infielder. And Vázquez might be the best defensive shortstop in the organization.

If by “nonprospect” you mean a player who is not a highly ranked prospect, here are a few names who could make their way to Baltimore: Luis González, Kade Strowd and Maverick Handley. González might be the next man up in the bullpen if a lefty reliever gets hurt, and he had elite strikeout-to-walk numbers in Triple-A last season. The organization viewed Strowd highly enough to put him on its 40-man roster this offseason, and the right-hander pitched well this spring. And Handley could be the next man up at catcher if an injury occurs to Adley Rutschman or Gary Sánchez, especially early in the season before the team deems Samuel Basallo is ready.

Who is on your Orioles roster bubble? Who will be the 26th man on the roster and the first left off? — @RollingWithRoc on X

The best guess for the last pitcher to make the team, assuming Cade Povich is the No. 5 starter, is reliever Bryan Baker with Matt Bowman left off the roster. The best guess for the last position player to make the team, assuming Gunnar Henderson opens the year on the injured list, is infielder Livan Soto, who might have a leg up on shortstop.

For more about the Orioles’ opening day roster, here’s a full projection with explanations for Povich, Baker and Soto making the team:

Will the Orioles hold back catching prospect Samuel Basallo until 2026 to give him a shot at the Rookie of the Year draft pick? And if they do, will fans have to wait until he’s past Super Two status? — @kodiack59 on X

First, can everyone in class please give Mr. Kodiack a round of applause? These are the types of questions we’re looking for here.

Second, let’s provide definitions. Top prospects who win a Rookie of the Year Award earn their organizations an extra selection at the end of the first round, so long as the player accrues a full year of service time that season. The Orioles received the pick from the prospect promotion incentive program last year after Gunnar Henderson won the American League version of the award in 2023.

Super Two is a bit esoteric to explain, but let’s keep it simple and not get bogged down into the details. Essentially, Super Two status is a system under which a certain portion of players earn an additional year of arbitration eligibility based on their service time. Super Two players could earn several million more dollars in the process, while their clubs are in position to dish out more cash for their services before they hit free agency.

OK, now let’s answer the question.

Will they hold back Basallo to ensure he is eligible to win the Rookie of the Year Award in 2026? There’s no guarantee, and Basallo is talented enough to expedite his timeline, but it appears that is where this is heading. We don’t have the time to discuss whether service-time manipulation or tactics of similar nature are good or bad for the game, but as of now, that’s not yet a serious consideration for Basallo.

The Dominican wunderkind has proved the hype real this spring, impressing coaches with his power and maturity. But he’s still only 20 years old with 21 games at Triple-A under his belt. They also have the luxury of not needing to rush him with one of baseball’s best catchers in Rutschman and a solid backup in Sánchez. An injury to one of those two backstops could alter any plans, so let’s assume everyone will remain healthy.

The Orioles don’t have to wait for 2026 to ensure Basallo remains rookie eligible that season. His timeline could be the same as Henderson’s in 2022 when the infielder debuted in late August, spent the remainder of that season in the majors and was still a rookie to begin 2023.

The cutoff is 130 at-bats or 45 days on the active roster, so it’s quite possible that Basallo proves he’s big league ready through the first five months of the season and is added to the roster in late August or September as a designated hitter, left-handed bench bat or more. If there’s no space on the roster or the club deems he’s not ready, his debut would be kicked to 2026. While nothing is off the table, it would be shocking (and unlikely) for the organization to attempt to save a few bucks by holding Basallo down for Super Two purposes.

Either way, the countdown for Basallo will begin once he starts to produce in Triple-A. Based on how he looked this spring, that might not take long.

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.