Orioles first baseman/designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle He was ejected in the eighth inning of today’s Grapefruit League contest after going down on a right-handed batter, but the team said he has already tested negative in his initial X-ray. Mountcastle will probably be considered routine for the time being.
There may have been a fracture or some kind of notable injury piling up in the Orioles’ injury-marred camp in Sarasota this spring. Baltimore has already lost Jordan Westberg (partial UCL tear), jackson holiday (Hate fracture) and Andrew Kittredge (Shoulder inflammation).
offseason contract Pete Alonso Mountcastle has been removed from Baltimore’s day-to-day role, but he still plays designated hitter and occasional first baseman. Due to injuries to Westberg and Holiday. Kobe Mayo (3rd base) and trade acquisition. Blaise Alexander (Second base) moves into likely starting job. These injuries provide more opportunities for both Mountcastle and the catcher/first baseman. Samuel Vassallo DH At the scene.
Of course, this is assuming Mountcastle breaks camp with the club at all. He didn’t seem like a lock to sign after an injury-marred season in 2025, but the O’s missed the opportunity to release him. After offering him a contract, they agreed to a one-year deal worth $6.72MM. The deal includes a club option for 2027, which gives the O’s control over what will be Mountcastle’s first season as a free agent.
The O’s shopped Mountcastle throughout the offseason and continued to discuss him during spring trade scenarios. Injuries to other parts of the roster may make a Mountcastle trade less likely a bit, but an injury to himself would have all but eliminated the possibility. With today’s clean bill of health, it seems at least plausible that a final move could be on the table. MLBTR’s Anthony Franco took a look at Mountcastle’s logical landing spots last week.
The early injuries have already put the brakes on the Orioles’ potential trade for Mayo, as mentioned earlier. He’s watched his name float around in rumor circles for 18 months, but now it appears Mayo are ready to start the season at a hot corner. The Baltimore Banner’s Kyle Goon takes a look at Mayo’s rough patch over the past year, as he was asked to change positions several times and felt like his standing within the organization was slipping.
Mayo played shortstop before being drafted, quickly moved to third base, and was told he would have to prepare strictly for first base after the 2025 season. Last year, he played regularly in that position. He then watched as the Orioles signed Alonso to a five-year deal, kept Mountcastle in arbitration, and signed Basallo to an eight-year extension, effectively guaranteeing him a spot on the roster going forward.
“I think you have to remember that there are plans for you, whether it’s with the Orioles or any other team,” Mayo said of the tumultuous run he’s had over the past year-plus. “I’m always going to do my best to help myself and get better. There’s nothing to be gained by just sulking and getting upset about the team’s moves. Who knew that come spring, two guys would go down in a week? Like, we had no idea.”
New O’s skipper Craig Albernaz told Goon he is “more comfortable” opening the year with Mayo as his primary third baseman. Maybe that’s the plan. Mayo made three mistakes at the hot corner, but played well enough to override those concerns for the time being. Although he was left out of today’s lineup, Mayo went 13-for-26 with three doubles, a home run and one strikeout in 28 spring plate appearances. He also didn’t walk, leading to an odd line where his OBP was south of his batting average of .500/.464/.731. (Mayo hits two sacrifice flies on the spring, resulting in an OBP mismatch.)
