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Orioles re-sign catcher to minor league contract
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The Baltimore Orioles have brought catcher Sam Huff back on a minor league contract after he cleared waivers and elected free agency. The 28-year-old will rejoin Triple-A Norfolk, continuing a pattern that has played out twice this season.
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Baltimore brought Huff aboard on a minor league deal in January and twice called him up to the major league roster after Adley Rutschman 's injuries created an opening behind the plate. Because Huff is out of minor league options, the Orioles designated him for assignment each time Rutschman returned from the injured list. After clearing waivers, Huff again chose free agency before re-signing with the organization.
Baltimore recently designated Chadwick Tromp for assignment, leaving Rutschman and Samuel Basallo as the team's major league catching tandem. Huff's return gives the Orioles additional catching depth at Triple-A while Tromp remains in DFA limbo.
In two major league runs with Baltimore this season, Huff appeared in nine games and went 4-for-23 at the plate, recording two singles and two doubles. Through 23 plate appearances, he owns a .174/.174/.261 slash line with 11 strikeouts and no walks. At Triple-A Norfolk, he has compiled a .169/.275/.359 line with a 37% strikeout rate across 102 plate appearances.
The 2026 campaign has been a step backward, though Huff has a much better track record than his recent numbers suggest. He's slashed .241/.292/.416 over 295 major league plate appearances and has spent parts of six seasons putting together a .253/.333/.467 line with 60 home runs at Triple-A.
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Defensively, Huff has consistently earned positive framing evaluations. While blocking has been a weaker area, he has improved at controlling the running game, carrying a 30% career caught-stealing rate in the minors and a 21% mark in the majors. During his brief stint with the Orioles this season, he threw out two of four attempted base stealers.
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Related: Orioles rumors: Baltimore urged to move outfield trade candidate
