3. Ryan Mountcastle, 3B
Birthday: 2/18/1997 (21)
Acquired: Draft, 1st round, 2015
Level(s): AA Bowie
Statistics: .297/.341/.464, 102 G, 428 PA, 19 2B, 4 3B, 13 HR, 2 SB, 6.1% BB, 18.5% K
The Baltimore Orioles first-round selection in 2015, Ryan Mountcastle has hit ever since he stepped on the field for the Orioles organization, hitting .296 in his draft season. In 2017, Mountcastle had a huge year for Frederick but struggled when he got up to AA Bowie.
In 2018, he returned to AA Bowie, and he hit very well, showing plus power and a plus contact ability. The biggest knock on Mountcastle has been his walk rate, but while there’s still work to do, he did see his walk rate nearly double from 2017 to 2018.
While he’s always hit, the other thing that Mountcastle has always done in the Baltimore Orioles organization has been raise questions about his defensive future. He has the ability to make plays on what he can get to, but his range was found not adequate for shortstop, so he was moved to third base this season.
This year, concerns were raised about Mountcastle’s ability to his current position as he showed struggles with reactions at third base. While he doesn’t have a plus arm, he has enough arm to work at left field, but even if he has to move to first base down the road, Mountcastle’s bat should be enough to make him valuable as a big leaguer.