BALTIMORE -- Maverick Handley hasn’t stopped smiling while walking around the Orioles’ clubhouse this week. He had been in that room before -- a few times, actually, during the 2024 season, when he served as an emergency catcher on Baltimore’s taxi squad -- but this time has been much different.
Handley arrived at Camden Yards on Monday to again join the taxi squad. But shortly before the series opener against the Yankees, his contract was selected from Triple-A Norfolk, and he was added to the active 26-man roster to fill in as the O’s backup catcher in place of the injured Gary Sánchez (right wrist inflammation).
At 27 years and 49 days old, Handley became a big leaguer.
“[Monday] was a whirlwind. I think hearing those words, they definitely hit something that’s been waiting for a while,” said Handley, a sixth-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. “I’m waiting for those stats to start appearing on the back of the baseball card, for sure. Awesome to be here and just waiting for the opportunity.”
It took 351 Minor League games over six seasons before Handley received his first promotion to The Show. He waited only one day to experience Major League action following his callup.
During the sixth inning of the Orioles’ 15-3 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday, Handley entered the game to take over for Adley Rutschman behind the plate in a lopsided contest. The Stanford University product went on to play the final four frames.
Handley’s biggest takeaway from his MLB debut?
“The lights were bright, it was great,” Handley said with a smile. “It was a special moment. Obviously, not the most ideal circumstances, but it is what it is, and I’m very proud to have gone out there.”
The reason it took this long for Handley to reach the big leagues wasn’t his defense. Even though he was never a top prospect in the Orioles’ system, he is regarded as a solid catcher.
But Handley struggled offensively early in his Minor League career. After getting drafted in 2019, he struck out 47 times in 131 plate appearances over his initial 41-game stint at Aberdeen (then a short-season affiliate) with a .202 average and a .535 OPS.
“I was like, ‘Hey, there are some glaring problems that I need to figure out if I’m going to hit at this level,’” Handley said. “I have put in a ton of time addressing that.”
Each offseason since, Handley has trained at Driveline Baseball facilities in an effort to improve his hitting. He felt he saw the most growth this past offseason -- and it showed this month, as he hit .346 (18-for-52) with six doubles, one triple, one home run, five RBIs and a .991 OPS over 15 games for Triple-A Norfolk.
Handley has also drawn motivation from being around talented catchers in Baltimore’s system -- first Rutschman (who was taken No. 1 overall in 2019, 167 picks ahead of Handley) and more recently 20-year-old Samuel Basallo (the Orioles’ No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline).
“I think there’s always been that little competitive nature like, ‘Hey, I want to be that guy, too,’” Handley said. “I think the calling card to save for me was you always need two catchers, you know? It’s not like Gunnar Henderson’s the guy in front of me where he’s going to be the shortstop. You always need two catchers.”
Once Sánchez’s wrist soreness began to hinder his play, Handley had put himself in position as the next man up.
On Monday, Orioles field coordinator/catching instructor Tim Cossins walked into the clubhouse to deliver the news.
“Hey man, you’re here. Put on the cleats. Suit it up,” Cossins told Handley.
Manager Brandon Hyde enjoyed seeing Handley then make phone calls to family members.
“Those are the special moments,” Hyde said. “Mav’s such a great guy, and he’s having a good year in Triple-A and he can really catch. Had a good Spring Training for us. We really like the person. So for him to get this opportunity, we’re happy for him.”
Handley went 0-for-2 in his first big league game, striking out swinging twice -- against Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón in the sixth and against lefty Tyler Matzek in the ninth.
It isn’t known how long Handley’s first MLB stint will last. Even if Sánchez remains sidelined, the Orioles have other catchers with big league experience in the Minors, including Chadwick Tromp and David Bañuelos.
But Handley plans to make the most of the opportunity and grow from what he called the “great learning experience” of his debut.
“I felt like I saw the ball really well and took some confident hacks,” Handley said. “I really wasn’t that nervous, which was pretty funny. ...
“No doubt, will forever remember this. Would like for it to be a win, but will always remember this, for sure.”