The Orioles have signed catcher Chadwick Tromp to a minor league deal, as confirmed by his transaction log on MLB.com. Tromp became a free agent last week after being designated for assignment by the Braves. He will join Triple-A Norfolk, with the Norfolk Tides officially announcing the signing in their game notes today (credit to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com).
Chadwick Tromp, 30, began his professional career in the Reds organization in 2013 and made his MLB debut with the Giants in 2020. After being claimed off waivers by the Braves in September 2021, he appeared in games for Atlanta each year from 2022 to 2025. Over his 61 MLB games, Tromp has posted a .224/.235/.385 slash line across 162 plate appearances. While his offensive numbers are below average, he provides some power, with 15 career extra-base hits and a .160 ISO, and is known for his solid defensive skills behind the plate. He is well-suited for Baltimore’s third-string catcher role.
Unless there’s an injury, Tromp is unlikely to get called up to the Orioles’ big league roster. Baltimore is well-stocked at catcher, with two-time All-Star Adley Rutschman starting and veteran Gary Sánchez serving as the backup. However, Tromp offers more experience than third-string option David Bañuelos, which could prove valuable. His presence also alleviates the pressure on the Orioles to rush top catching prospect Samuel Basallo to the majors should an early-season injury occur. Basallo, a highly promising 20-year-old, is currently on the minor league IL with a hamstring injury and has only played 28 games at Triple-A. While he could be ready for a late-season debut, the Orioles are likely to take their time with his development.
