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Baltimore Orioles: Jorge Mateo is finally getting a chance

By Darren Klein

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 11: Jorge Mateo #3 of the Baltimore Orioles scores a run as catcher Victor Caratini #7 of the Milwaukee Brewers applies the late tag in the second inning during the Orioles Opening Day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 11, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 11: Jorge Mateo #3 of the Baltimore Orioles scores a run as catcher Victor Caratini #7 of the Milwaukee Brewers applies the late tag in the second inning during the Orioles Opening Day at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 11, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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The year was 2016 and Baseball America had just published the top prospects for the New York Yankees. The top three prospects in the organization were Aaron Judge (third), Gary Sanchez (second), and coming in at number one was shortstop Jorge Mateo, who now finds himself with New York’s division rival in the Baltimore Orioles.

It has been a long and winding road for Jorge Mateo to reach his current role with the Baltimore Orioles

But let’s flash back to 2016 again. The season prior, Mateo was a lightning rod for the Yankees farm system, splitting the season between the Charleston RiverDogs and the Tampa Yankees, putting up a very impressive .278 batting average along with 82 stolen bases. Mateo’s success was a very interesting situation. I am actually a Yankees fan and, despite being the team’s number one prospect and “The Captain” Derek Jeter officially being retired, even with Mateo’s elite level speed, his arrival to the Bronx still felt a very long ways off.

In 2017, Pinstripe Alley published an article titled, “Don’t forget about Yankees prospect Jorge Mateo.” One of the lines I found very interesting was when they penned the following:

"“Mateo is still far away from the big leagues, of course. He just hit Double-A and he probably plays another full season there to assess his growth. He could be at Triple-A by the spring of next year, and at that point, the clock starts ticking.”"

It just seemed as soon as Jeter said goodbye, fans were itching to find someone to help fill the void left. Long story short, Didi Gregorius became a fan favorite and the acquisition of Gleyber Torres all but guaranteed Jorge Mateo was destined to become part of a deadline deal. On July 31, 2017, the Yankees did trade Mateo, along with James Kaprielian and Dustin Fowler, to the Oakland Athletics for starting pitcher Sonny Gray.

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I always wanted to see what Mateo could do if he was given a shot to play everyday on the big league level. Still at only 26 years old and coming into his prime years, Jorge Mateo looks to finally take advantage of his shot with Baltimore Orioles. Playing in a very hitter-friendly ball park for 81 games along with the other AL East parks, Mateo will hopefully finally earn a spot with the Orioles and continue to build on his career.

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