By Benjamin Strack
Coming in at No. 7 on Baseball America‘s list of the Baltimore Orioles’ top 10 prospects is shortstop Ryan Mountcastle. A Florida native, Mountcastle, 18, signed with the organization for $1.3 million in June. Here are five things to know about the 6-foot-3, 195-pound minor leaguer.
1. HE WAS DRAFTED FOR HIS BAT
Mountcastle hit .500 during his senior season at Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Fla., belting two home runs and stealing 22 bases. Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich told The Baltimore Sun his pitch recognition and discipline at the plate complements his mindset to be aggressive. Assigned to the club’s Gulf Coast League affiliate in rookie ball, Mountcastle was quickly named the Orioles’ Minor League Player of the Month for July.
2. HE HAS SHOWN PROMISE AND WILL BENEFIT FROM BULKING UP
Mountcastle hit .296/.325/.393/.718 in 196 at bats during his first year in the minor leagues, belting four homers and seven doubles en route to driving in 19 runs. Though revered by Steve Bernhardt, the executive vice president of baseball at Baseball Factory, for his bat speed and ability to square up the ball against good pitching, according to Baseball America, IronBirds announcer Daniel Kurish told Baseball Essential Mountcastle will benefit from bulking up. He is, after all, the youngest member of the IronBirds and has time to grow into his body before making a jump to the next level.
3. HE SHINED DURING HIS NEW YORK-PENNSYLVANIA LEAGUE DEBUT
Though hitting just four home runs during his 53 games in the minors, Mountcastle transitioned from the Gulf Coast League Orioles to the Aberdeen IronBirds in style, homering on the second pitch he saw. The long ball came off Brooklyn Cyclones pitcher Tyler Badamo, as the fans at Ripken Stadium were properly introduced to the young prospect Aug. 23. His clutch moment after his promotion to Single-A Aberdeen may be a glimpse into his big-time potential.
4. HE HAS HAD SOME ISSUES IN THE INFIELD
Praised for above-average power by Baseball America‘s scouting report, the same report speculates he could end up in left field due to defensive shortcomings in the infield. While with two different teams during the 2015 season, Mountcastle played 39 games at shortstop, nine games as a designated hitter and three games at third base. He made nine errors in 101 attempts at shortstop — his primary position in high school — and two errors in nine attempts at third, where he saw plenty of action on the showcase circuit.
5. THE ORIOLES TOOK A CHANCE ON MOUNTCASTLE
Ranked 110th in the top 200 prospect watch by MLB.com and 122nd on Baseball America‘s list prior to the draft, Mountcastle did not at all appear to be a first-round pick. But the Orioles took a gamble, taking the young infielder 11 picks after Florida State outfielder D.J. Stewart, who ranked 30th according to the same Baseball America list. Baltimore received the 36th overall pick as compensation for losing slugger Nelson Cruz to free agency, snagging Mountcastle out of high school as he subsequently backed out of his commitment to the University of Central Florida. Though it’s often a risk to take prospects straight out of high school, the reward can be great if the potential turns to something more, as the player has extra time to polish his game before being called to the majors.