The Baltimore Orioles may be looking towards the future, but a major piece of that will not arrive this season.
Typically, when rosters expand in September, it is a chance for teams to give their top prospects their first look at the majors. Those players get a month to acclimate to the majors, getting their first taste of what the competition is like, a preview for when they are expected to contribute in the following season. For a team like the Baltimore Orioles, which is playing for the future, it is the perfect way to see what they have in some of their prospects.
Except, one of their top prospects will not be getting that call. Ryan Mountcastle, considered to be a top five prospect in the Orioles system and a consensus top 100 prospect overall, will not be getting that look in September.
Ryan Mountcastle won't be part of #orioles expanded roster
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) September 2, 2019
There is no question that Mountcastle is ready with the bat. In his first taste of AAA, he produced a stellar .310/.343/.527 batting line, hitting 25 homers and 35 doubles. While he only drew 24 walks and struck out 129 times in his 548 plate appearances, that production would lead one to think that Mountcastle would get a crack at the majors this month.
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However, there are still questions. He is a player seemingly without a position, as there are concerns about his glove. Originally a shortstop, Mountcastle moved to third, then spent most of this season at first. He also spent 25 games in left for Norfolk, as the Orioles looked to find a position for him.
That may be the biggest obstacle for Mountcastle moving forward. While Chris Davis is the Orioles first baseman for now, he may need to move to a designated hitter role. Mark Trumbo‘s impending free agency does potentially free up a place on the roster for 2020, and could provide a framework to get Mountcastle a place in the lineup.
Putting Mountcastle in a Trumbo style role may be the best option defensively. He has played at first and left, and could presumably get a look in right in Winter Leagues or in Spring Training. This would get his bat in the lineup, and possibly hide his questionable glove.
That potential experiment will have to wait. The Baltimore Orioles are not bringing Ryan Mountcastle to the majors just yet, as he will not be part of their September callups.