The Baltimore Orioles have reached an eight-year contract extension with top prospect Basallo.

The first long-term contract under Mike Elias’s leadership in Baltimore has been signed—this deal goes to the 21-year-old talented rookie who debuted in the major leagues only five days ago.

Today, the Orioles agreed to an eight-year extension with catcher Samuel Basallo lasting through the 2033 season, with a team option for 2034. The deal is worth $67 million and includes performance and playing-time incentives that could raise the total to $88.5 million.

Sources say this is the largest contract signed by a catcher before arbitration, including a $5 million signing bonus.

“We are thrilled to reach a long-term agreement with Samuel and are delighted about what this means for his family,” Elias said in a statement. “His debut and this extension represent a huge milestone for our organization, starting with our international scouting team and successfully driven by our entire player development department. I thank the ownership group led by David Rubenstein for supporting our investment in Samuel to pursue sustained on-field success now and in the future.”

Basallo’s contract ranks as the Orioles’ fourth-largest in history, behind Chris Davis (7 years, $161 million), Adam Jones (6 years, $85.5 million), and Miguel Tejada (6 years, $72 million).

“The agreement with Samuel is just the catalyst for the next exciting era of Orioles baseball,” Rubenstein said in a statement. “I appreciate Mike Elias, International Scouting and VP of Baseball Operations Koby Perez, and the entire baseball operations team for their hard work and dedication to ensuring Samuel becomes a key part of our organization’s future.”

It has been an extraordinary week for the Orioles’ top prospect and MLB.com’s eighth-ranked Basallo.

First, Basallo learned last Sunday that he would be called up to the majors for the first time—a joyful message conveyed to him by his father, Jairo Fernando, over the phone. On Sunday, Basallo made his debut in Baltimore and recorded his first major league hit in Houston, a two-RBI single to first base.

Basallo played four games, going 4-for-14 (.286) with a double, five RBIs, and one run scored. In Wednesday’s 4-3, 11-inning victory against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, he drove in the winning run with a groundout in the 11th inning.

When Basallo was called up, the plan was for him to rotate between catcher, designated hitter, and first base. However, starting catcher Adley Rutschman was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a right oblique strain, making Basallo the team’s primary catcher.

The Orioles are clearly excited about Basallo’s long-term potential; the Dominican player has the capability to become a franchise cornerstone and one of baseball’s premier stars. Since signing for $1.3 million out of the Dominican Republic in January 2021, he has demonstrated this throughout his minor league career.

“Looking back to when Mike first arrived, there was no Latin American program. I think it’s very meaningful that the first extension comes from a player in this brand-new Latin American program,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “This is a big deal. Sami wants to stay in Baltimore, and hopefully, others want to stay here in the future. This is a huge moment for the organization. Hopefully, this is a big step forward.”

Before being called up, Basallo had already drawn attention, hitting .270/.377/.589 with 17 doubles, 23 home runs, and 67 RBIs in 76 games for Triple-A Norfolk this season. He also showed improvement behind the plate, honing his defensive skills.

Since Elias became GM in November 2018, Baltimore fans have eagerly awaited seeing their young stars sign extensions, but it never happened before. The organization underwent a complete rebuild, so it took time to infuse talent throughout the system.

Despite the Orioles’ disappointing 59-68 performance in the 2025 season, plagued by injuries, the future still looks promising. They retain a core group of players including Basallo, Rutschman, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, second baseman Jackson Holliday, third baseman Jordan Westburg, and outfielder Colton Cowser, all of whom could sign extensions down the line.

For now, Basallo is a strong foundational piece—especially since this 6-foot-4 power hitter has quickly adapted to major league life and has already shown what he’s capable of.

“I feel great. I’m very happy to be here. It’s exciting to be here,” Basallo said before his Orioles Park debut on Thursday in a 7-2 loss to the Astros. “I’m pumped and ready to give 100% effort every time.”

On Friday, Basallo received a warm ovation from the crowd—fellow rookie Dylan Beavers also hit his first major league home run—and as Basallo continues to improve and settle into his new long-term home, this applause will surely continue.

“He’s an outstanding player. He seems to fit in very well with this group,” Mansolino said. “Seeing Sami play like this is truly exciting.”