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MLB rumors: 5 prospects who can help the Orioles in 2019

By Joshua Sadlock

TAMPA, FL - MARCH 01: Baltimore Orioles right fielder Austin Hays (21) rounds the basses after hitting a home run during the MLB Spring Training game between the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees on March 01, 2019 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. (Photo by /Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 01: Baltimore Orioles right fielder Austin Hays (21) rounds the basses after hitting a home run during the MLB Spring Training game between the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees on March 01, 2019 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. (Photo by /Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CLEARWATER, FL – MARCH 24: Ryan Mountcastle (76) of the Orioles walks to the batter’s box during the spring training game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies on March 24, 2019 at the Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FL – MARCH 24: Ryan Mountcastle (76) of the Orioles walks to the batter’s box during the spring training game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies on March 24, 2019 at the Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Ryan Mountcastle

Teams paying lip service to top prospects needing to spend some time in the minor leagues is all the rage these days, but for Orioles prospect Ryan Mountcastle, working on defense isn’t just an easy way to prevent a player from earning a few extra million dollars over the course of his career. Mountcastle was a project defensively when the Orioles drafted him as a shortstop out of high school, and he remains a project four years later.

The Orioles drafted Mountcastle for his bat and will be more than happy to hide his glove somewhere on the diamond. He has hit .289/.323/.453 with 45 home runs and 191 RBI in his first four seasons. Mountcastle has an excellent feel for hitting and uses the entire field. A home-run stroke will continue to develop, but he hit 48 doubles across two levels in 2017. In addition to his defensive development, the Orioles coaching staff would also love to see the 22-year-old develop slightly more patience at the plate.

Mountcastle was drafted as a shortstop, moved to third base last year, and will need to move to left field or first base by the time he sticks in the big leagues for good. He made an abysmal 16 errors in only 81 games at third in 2018, and does not have the arm strength or lateral quickness for the infield. The problem for the Orioles is that left field, first base and DH are clogged by Trey Mancini, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo. Redundancy on an MLB roster is one of my favorite things. Regardless of position, Mountcastle has a bat that could handle MLB pitching today.

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