The Orioles placed Mountcastle (foot) on the 60-day injured list Monday.
Mountcastle was diagnosed with a fractured fourth metacarpal in his left foot following his exit from Saturday's game against the Giants. His placement on the 60-day IL means the earliest he can return to major-league action is mid-to-late June, though it wouldn't be surprising to see Mountcastle on the shelf until the All-Star break in mid-July. With Mountcastle being moved off the 40-man roster, the Orioles acquired Christian Encarnacion-Strand from the Reds and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Dealing with foot fracture
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Orioles manager Craig Albernaz announced after Sunday's win against the Giants that Mountcastle has been diagnosed with a fractured fourth metacarpal in his left foot and will miss some time, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
The 29-year-old suffered the injury during Saturday's contest and is now poised to hit the injured list. It's literally a tough break for Mountcastle, who finally appeared to have a chance at increased playing time when Adley Rutschman (ankle) landed on the shelf Saturday.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Not starting Sunday
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Mountcastle (foot) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Mountcastle exited Saturday's 6-2 win due to left foot pain and had been scheduled to undergo an MRI on Sunday. The Orioles should have a better idea of whether Mountcastle will require a stint on the injured list after the testing.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Scheduled for MRI
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Mountcastle (foot) is slated to have an MRI on Sunday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Mountcastle exited Saturday's 6-2 win over San Francisco after stumbling and diving as he approached second base on a double. He was immediately replaced by a pinch runner and exited the field with a trainer. Clarity about Mountcastle's injury and a timeline for his return to action could come once the results of his imaging are in.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Dealing with left foot injury
Rotowire
Mountcastle, who was pulled from Saturday's game against the Giants after hitting a double in the second inning, is said to be dealing with left foot pain, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Mountcastle was replaced on second base by Dylan Beavers after the former hurt himself on a stumble and dive toward second base after hitting a double. It's not clear how serious Mountcastle's injury is, but he exited the field with a trainer by his side.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Exits with apparent injury
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Mountcastle was removed from Saturday's matchup versus San Francisco after appearing to hurt himself while diving into second base on a hit, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Mountcastle got the start at DH on Saturday -- just his second start over Baltimore's past four games -- and doubled in his first at bat in the bottom of the second inning, However, he stumbled while running to second base and appeared to hurt himself while sliding into the bag. Mountcastle was subsequently removed, and Dylan Beavers entered as the pinch runner. Details about Mountcastle's injury should emerge during or after the contest.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Seeing scarce playing time
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Mountcastle is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
Mountcastle has found playing time difficult to come by in the early going; he's started just once in the Orioles' first six games and has logged five plate appearances in total. With Samuel Basallo serving as the Orioles' primary designated hitter and offseason pickup Pete Alonso handling an everyday role at first base, Mountcastle likely won't have a path to steady at-bats unless either of the former two players misses time at some point.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Back in action
Rotowire
Mountcastle (hand) is starting at designated hitter and batting cleanup Tuesday against the Tigers, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Mountcastle missed almost a week with the hand issue but is back in the heart of the lineup Tuesday. He is hitting .296 with zero home runs, zero walks and six strikeouts in 29 plate appearances this spring. He has also been hit by a pitch twice.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Set to return Saturday
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Mountcastle said Friday that his right hand is "all good" and that he should return to the Grapefruit League lineup Saturday against the Pirates, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
The veteran first baseman departed Wednesday's contest after being hit by a pitch on the hand, but X-rays came back negative and seems set to rejoin the lineup after a couple days off. Mountcastle was limited to 89 games last season due to a hamstring strain and struggled to a .653 OPS when available. He's looking like the odd man out of Baltimore's lineup in 2026 after the club signed Pete Alonso to take over at first base.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: X-rays on hand return negative
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Mountcastle is day-to-day after X-rays on his right hand came back negative, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Mountcastle was pulled from Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates when he was plunked by a pitch, but he's managed to avoid a fracture. The Orioles are idle Thursday, so he could be back in action as soon as Friday. Mountcastle is facing uncertain playing time this season, as he's down the Orioles' depth chart at both first base and designated hitter.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Exits after HBP
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Mountcastle was removed from Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates in the eighth inning after being hit in the right hand by a pitch, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
The severity of Mountcastle's injury isn't yet known, but the Orioles will presumably send him in for an X-ray to confirm whether he suffered a fracture. Though Mountcastle looked like a potential non-tender or trade candidate this offseason, he'll remain with the Orioles for 2026 after signing a one-year, $6.79 million deal to avoid arbitration. However, Mountcastle could struggle to find regular playing time after the Orioles brought in Pete Alonso on a massive long-term deal over the winter to take over as their everyday first baseman.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Finalizes deal for 2026
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Mountcastle agreed to a one-year, $6.787 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. The deal includes a $7.5 million club option for 2027.
The 28-year-old's standing on Baltimore's roster is a bit murky following the offseason acquisitions of Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward, but Mountcastle still received a modest raise for 2026, plus the club option. The first baseman doesn't have a clear path to playing time after recording a career-low .653 OPS with just seven home runs in 89 games last season, so his name is likely to continue coming up in trade rumors.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Overcomes finger issue
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Mountcastle (finger) will start at designated hitter and bat leadoff in Thursday's game versus the Yankees
Per Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com, Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino revealed that Mountcastle has been dealing with a finger issue the last two days, though it's unclear whether that's the only reason he's been out of the lineup. The 28-year-old's start Thursday is just his third over the past eight tilts.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Fading into reserve role
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Mountcastle is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
Mountcastle is on the bench for the fourth time in five games and looks like he'll be limited to a part-time role down the stretch. Since returning from the injured list Aug. 8, Mountcastle has posted a .702 OPS, nearly 100 points above Coby Mayo's mark during that same stretch (.612 OPS). However, because Mayo is seen as a core building block for the Orioles, he'll continue to be prioritized as the team's everyday first baseman ahead of Mountcastle, who is entering his final year of arbitration in 2026 and could be a possible trade or non-tender candidate this offseason.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Role diminishing
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Mountcastle is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the White Sox.
The 28-year-old is sitting for the fourth time in the past six contests, as Coby Mayo is operating as Baltimore's primary first baseman. Samuel Basallo and Tyler O'Neill have been picking up at-bats at designated hitter over the past week, which has pushed Mountcastle into a less consistent role. He hasn't helped his cause at the plate in September with a .194/.231/.222 slash line in nine games.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Sitting out Thursday
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Mountcastle is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.
Mountcastle will retreat to the bench after starting each of the past seven contests. Coby Mayo is at first base and Samuel Basallo is in the designated-hitter spot Thursday as the Orioles go for the sweep.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Exiting starting nine
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Mountcastle is absent from the lineup for Monday's contest in San Diego.
Mountcastle started each of the previous five games, but he'll take a seat against righty Dylan Cease and the Padres on Monday. Samuel Basallo will serve as the designated hitter and Coby Mayo will handle first base for Baltimore in the series opener.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Not in Tuesday's lineup
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Mountcastle is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Red Sox.
It's a routine day off for Mountcastle, who had started each of the previous seven contests. The Orioles are going with Coby Mayo at designated hitter and Samuel Basallo at first base Tuesday.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Homers in return to lineup
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Mountcastle went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-2 win over the Athletics.
In his first at-bat since May 30, Mountcastle launched a 433-foot homer in the first inning that stood as the game-winner. The 27-year-old is slashing .247/.281/.363 with three homers, 16 RBI, 20 runs scored and one steal over 203 plate appearances this season and should see regular time at first base and designated hitter for the Orioles down the stretch.
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Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle: Back from IL
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Mountcastle (hamstring) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Mountcastle will make his first MLB appearance since May 30, when he sustained a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He'll DH and bat fifth Friday. Colton Cowser (concussion) and Tyler O'Neill (wrist) were placed on the injured list in corresponding moves.
