Tigers at center of potential high-profile Orioles injury at spring training

The injury bug has already arrived at camp for the Detroit Tigers, considering both pitchers Troy Melton and Reese Olson have been sidelined. While not ideal, neither injury should dramatically alter the plan for the 2026 season.

The same might not be able to be said for an injury that took place during the Tigers' Grapefruit League game against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.

Tigers prospect Hao-Yu Lee hit a double to right field, which resulted in a play at the plate between Matt Vierling — trying to score from first base — and Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo. Vierling was thrown out at the plate, but the Orioles may be faced with a larger concern as Basallo appeared to have been injured on the tag attempt and was taken out of the game.

Tigers involved in scary spring training injury to Orioles' Samuel Basallo

The Orioles were the talk of the American League during the offseason. Their 2025 struggles led to them being among the top disappointments of last season, and easily the biggest seller at the trade deadline last July. (Thanks again for Charlie Morton.)

The Orioles wasted little time in making moves this past offseason, trading for Taylor Ward and signing Ryan Helsley within the first month of the offseason. Of course, they shocked all of baseball with the signing of Pete Alonso during the Winter Meetings.

With Alonso's arrival, the expectation was that Basallo would open the season as the Orioles' designated hitter while continuing his development as a catcher. He was promoted to the major league level last August, but at this stage of his development, his bat is far ahead of his skills as a catcher. If Basallo is forced to miss significant time, that dramatically changes the look of the Orioles' starting lineup ahead of Opening Day.

Unfortunately, it's the risk in spring training play. Vierling and the Tigers didn't intentionally approach this game with the intent of hurting a potential contender's chances before the regular season even starts. It was simply a matter of Basallo being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

While not discrediting the injury to Basallo — we see you, Hao-Yu Lee. Lee is one of the Tigers' top prospects who could have a path to making the Tigers' Opening Day roster as a utility man on the bench, and a strong spring performance could go a long way toward helping him get there.