The Baltimore Orioles have called up their top prospect, 21-year-old Samuel Basallo, for his MLB debut against the Houston Astros, marking a significant move late in the season.

Rated as Baltimore's No. 1 prospect and the No. 8 in MLB, Basallo is a Dominican native who plays catcher and first baseman, and his promotion comes with six weeks remaining in the season.

Basallo, who has demonstrated exceptional hitting in Triple-A with a .270/.377/.589 line and 23 home runs in 76 games, is expected to bolster the Orioles' offense and future prospects.

He will serve as a backup catcher behind Adley Rutschman and also see playing time at first base, with his first start scheduled for Monday night against the Red Sox.

Baltimore's interim manager Tony Mansolino highlighted Basallo as a key Latin American signing and expressed confidence in his competitiveness and potential impact.

His presence is anticipated to positively influence the Orioles' chances in the remaining games of the season and help build a more competitive team for future seasons.

Basallo is known for his powerful left-handed bat, strong arm, and good mobility behind the plate, which can help control the running game.

Given the timing, Basallo is unlikely to surpass the 45-day rookie service time threshold, allowing him to remain rookie-eligible next season and retain prospect-promotion benefits.

The Orioles, currently 56-67 and at the bottom of the AL East, are utilizing Basallo's offensive and defensive versatility to improve team performance during a critical stretch of games.

Alongside Basallo's promotion, the team reinstated outfielder Colton Cowser from the concussion list, promoted Dylan Beavers, and made roster adjustments due to injuries.

Basallo's impressive hitting metrics include a high expected weighted on-base average of .430, second only to Roman Anthony among prospects.

The Orioles' promotion of Basallo also marks their first significant Latin American signing, with the team expressing excitement about his future and potential.