Coby Mayo

Mayo has spent most of the last two seasons in Triple-A

And so ends Mayo's quest to make Baltimore's Opening Day roster. The 23-year-old top prospect started the spring slowly but had gone 7-for-19 (.368) over his last eight games before being hit in the hand by a pitch on Monday. There isn't a clear path to at-bats in the majors given the Orioles' corner-infield logjam with Jordan Westburg, Ryan Mountcastle, Heston Kjerstad and Ryan O'Hearn all fighting for time. Mayo will head to Triple-A to start the season and may need an injury or a trade in order to get regular big-league playing time.

And so ends Mayo's quest to make the Opening Day roster. The 23-year-old started the spring slowly but had gone 7-for-19 (.368) over his last eight games before being hit in the hand by a pitch on Monday. Unfortunately, the Orioles have a logjam at their corner infield spots with Jordan Westburg, Ryan Mountcastle, Heston Kjerstad, and Ryan O'Hearn all fighting for time. Mayo will head to Triple-A to start the season and may need an injury or a trade in order to get regular MLB playing time.

The Orioles optioned Mayo to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters Mayo is OK and will be re-evaluated on Tuesday. He appears to have dodged serious injury after being hit by a pitch on the right hand/wrist area by a 96-mph heater during Monday's spring contest. The 23-year-old top prospect is likely ticketed for Triple-A Norfolk at the outset of the year, but he projects as a power plus counting stats fantasy contributor once he gets another shot in the big leagues.