Orioles' prospect Coby Mayo's age-advanced development at Bowie comes with a simple directive: 'You're not allowed to hit a ground ball.'

So much of the 20-year-old slugger's future is tied to hitting the ball in the air more often that the easiest way to reinforce that is to tell him in his drill work ground balls are forbidden.

Facing Double-A pitching in his age-20 season was always going to be a challenge for Coby Mayo, who entered this season with breakout prospect status and sky-high expectations.

To help him achieve his development goals and overcome the complications that come with a such a difficult assignment in his first full season, Mayo is given a simple message from Bowie hitting coach Brandon Becker: “Coby, you’re not allowed to hit a ground ball.”

Easier said than done, of course, but by driving home that simple point, Becker and the Orioles’ hitting staff are continuing to guide the diligent and precocious talent whose power potential made him a $1.75 million signing in the 2020 draft toward an impact major league future — and a strong finish at Bowie along with it.