The Orioles waited per week to see if Ryan Mountcastle’s left shoulder would enhance sufficient to get the primary baseman again on the sector and keep away from a stint on the injured listing, however it hasn’t.
Manager Brandon Hyde stated earlier than Wednesday’s sequence finale in opposition to the Houston Astros that Mountcastle hadn’t progressed the best way the Orioles hoped, forcing them to position the slugger on the 10-day IL with left AC joint irritation.
Even although he hasn’t performed since Sept. 13, Mountcastle’s IL journey can solely be backdated three days. Hyde stated the purpose is for Mountcastle to return as quickly as his stint ends subsequent Wednesday. Outfielder Ryan McKenna was recalled from Triple-A to interchange Mountcastle on the 28-man roster.
Mountcastle suffered the harm on a swing within the first inning of final Wednesday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Hyde had stated a number of instances prior to now week that the middle-of-the-order bat wasn’t a candidate to go on the IL, however that his batting observe session Wednesday morning “didn’t go well.”
“It’s not a setback,” Hyde stated. “It was going really well with his progression and he’s feeling better. He tried to swing the other day, was a little sore. We were hoping this session today was going to be an improvement from that last one.”
Mountcastle was dejected after injuring his shoulder final week, and Hyde stated he’s “really down about” being positioned on the IL now.
“It’s disappointing for him,” Hyde stated. “He was hoping he’d be back in a few days. The treatment and everything he’s getting and how hard he’s working to get back, just disappointed that it wasn’t feeling really good in his batting practice today in the cage.”
The 26-year-old had an up-and-down first two months of the season earlier than a bout with vertigo pressured him to overlook a month of the season. But Mountcastle, who hasn’t talked concerning the harm with reporters since final Wednesday, shortly regained his type after returning in July and has been the Orioles’ finest hitter because the All-Star break with a .900 OPS. On the season, Mountcastle is slashing .269/.327/.453 — good for a .780 OPS.
When Mountcastle was faraway from final Wednesday’s recreation, the Orioles promoted prospect Heston Kjerstad from Triple-A. While not a one-for-one alternative given they hit from reverse sides of the plate, Kjerstad has excited Hyde to this point together with his power-hitting capacity. Kjerstad has began his MLB profession 4-for-13 with two solo house runs, together with his first Friday in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays and his second in Tuesday’s win over the Astros.
“I’m impressed with how hard he hits the baseball and how he stays on the ball,” Hyde stated. “It’s not one-sided, also. What he did yesterday, the way he can drive the ball the other way, pretty unique power.”
Ryan O’Hearn has began each recreation at first base in Mountcastle’s absence and can proceed to take action in opposition to right-handed beginning pitchers. Against lefties, Anthony Santander and Ramón Urías, two gamers who’ve sparingly performed first this 12 months, might additionally fill in on the place, and catcher James McCann and Kjerstad are emergency choices.
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