The Orioles have added top prospect Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder Mason Williams to their 60-man player pool, manager Brandon Hyde revealed to reporters at Summer Camp today (Twitter link via MLB.com’s Joe Trezza). That pair of additions brings the team’s total to 47 players.
Mountcastle, 23, was the No. 36 pick in the draft by the Orioles back in 2015 and has rated among the organization’s best prospects ever since. Questions persist about just where on the field Mountcastle will play — he was a shortstop in high school but has since played third base, left field and first base — but his bat is generally very well regarded. Mountcastle followed up 2018’s .297/.341/.464 slash (121 wRC+) in a pitcher-friendly Double-A setting with a .312/.344/.527 slash (117 wRC+) in Triple-A last year. He doesn’t walk much but also doesn’t strike out at an alarming rate and has never batted worse than .281 in a full professional season.
Wherever Mountcastle settles in defensively, he’s viewed as a potential long-term piece who could fit into the middle of the team’s lineup. Given last year’s solid showing in Triple-A and the lack of a minor league season in 2020, it’ll be a surprise if Mountcastle doesn’t log significant at-bats with the Orioles.
As for Williams, he’s a former top prospect himself, although at 29 years of age, those days are behind him. Williams has seen MLB time in each of the past five seasons but has never found extended playing time or had much success in his fleeting big league auditions. He hit .267/.324/.300 in 11 games with the O’s last year and is a lifetime .286/.325/.382 hitter in the big leagues. That’s a generally respectable line, but Williams has never tallied more than 132 plate appearances in a Major League season. He’s a career .288/.341/.405 hitter in more than 1500 Triple-A plate appearances.
Williams can be a stellar 5th OF
He’ll be our second or third
I never understood why the guy hasn’t gotten a long look…maybe lack of power? Regardless, he seems like a dependable guy.
Not enough bat for a corner, not enough D for center.
Agree Steve….. his power isn’t there. But who knows we have seen guys in the minors with seemingly little power and they hit the majors and start hitting home runs.
Similar to Nick Martini. Good defensive replacement and outfield depth, but not someone you want to give regular at-bats to
Tell me O’s fans, is Mountcastle as highly touted of a prospect as he was a few years ago? I don’t hear his name brought up as much anymore.
Yes, he is. Keith Law seems fixated on his defensive liabilities, but he’s every bit the hitter that all the experts said two years ago that he would be. He doesn’t walk as much as some would like. Best comparison I’ve read is that he’ could be a better version of Trey Mancini who himself was never a favorite of the experts. It’s likely that Mountcastle will be a LF/DH. It’s telling that the O’s added two outfielders to camp today, as Dwight Smith Jr and Anthony Santander have yet to be seen in workouts. The O’s are tight lipped about this, but it is likely that they are quarantined for exposure at the very least.
Mountcastle’s ceiling is what Trey did last year. I don’t see anyway he’s hitting better than 35% above the league average.
Mancini is a pretty decent comp for potential though. That’s not going to get a lot of love from guys who make prospect lists. He doesn’t play defense well at any position, isn’t much of an athlete and he’s immune to walking at this point. Guys like that have to hit very wall to be successful.
Mountcastle is generally considered a top 100 guy or just outside. That’s pretty fair. If it all clicks, he could be another Trey Mancini. If he doesn’t hit quite so well—he’s not offering anything else in the other departments.
Like we’ve seen with Trey. If Trey hits like 2019 Trey Mancini—he’s a valuable piece. If he hits like 2018 Mancini—he isn’t providing a ton of value.
“Mountcastle’s ceiling is what Trey did last year.” Take it to the bank MLBTR Os fans. jbigz12 said it, it absolutely will come true…
Mancini OPS at AAA 0.775
Mountcastle OPS at AAA 0.871
but hey
Comical, Justin!
AAA stats tell the story! AAA stats unadjusted for a juiced ball as well!
I wished I hated someone I didn’t know so much I’d just spout random nonsense to disagree! Let’s compare AA stats next or better yet—let’s go back to the 8th grade and compare travel ball stats between the two!!!
i mean, isnt Mountcastle more of a 1B then an OF?
He played 26 games and 221 innings there last year. Looks like they want him to get more familiar with it, but their best option might be to keep him limited to just 1B and DH.
It is not just his defensive liabilities. He also doesn’t walk and Ks too much for a guy with that low of a walk rate. He reminds me a lot of Jonathan Schoop. Which would be good if he was a 2Bman, but as a 1B/LF/DH guy that doesn’t scream franchise piece.
Yea, that sub-5% walk rate and 25%+ strikeut rate should worry a lot of people. Combied with his lack of defensive value and it could turn out ugly. Could be Trey Mancini, could be Rougned Odor.
Never liked satander too much….. and not sure if he’s gonna be the next trey either. I respect your opinion but I don’t have him hitting 30 and .300. I know you didn’t say he was going to hit that, but To whoever the “expert” is who predicted that …… smh that’s a stretch there my guy.
likely has to do with it becoming clear he wouldn’t be a SS. The bat still plays but it’s less valuable at 1B/LF/DH
His name is actually still brought up and he’s very much a part of current and future plans. As others have mentioned, he’s not a defensive asset and at present he does not have a position. (Came up playing third but even from the beginning his D was suspect, as was his arm. I’m guessing 1B and DH.)
I don’t get how Williams is able to stick around. His defense is meh and his bat doesn’t play at a corner outfield spot. I guess his former prospect status and the Orioles rebuilding status make sense, but I would think there are better options to give a shot.
I think you are undervaluing his defense; it’s literally the only thing he has going for him. He plays outfield better than all of our outfielders except for possibly Hays.
His defense is just below average. That may be better than most options for the Orioles, but I would think if you are okay accepting below average defense in a rebuilding year, then why not give a younger option a chance. I don’t mean call someone you feel can contribute in your next contention window, maybe an option that you think might provide value in a best case scenario. Throw them out there and hope they stick.
The league knows Williams and I doubt he becomes a worthwhile trade chip. Just seems odd he is still bopping around like he is.
Maybe someone in the Os organization REALLY likes “Classical Gas”
I had high hopes for Mason Williams, man.
Seemed like he was going to be a Gardy type. Alas.
I had high hopes too. Followed him for a while through the Yankees’ system. Even got a chance to meet him in Scranton and again when he was briefly called up in a game against the O’s. He was super friendly, hope he gets a legitimate shot still.
Sretcher!
What’s good, bro?
Hope you’re well, man.
Nice. I’m seeing a lot of folks here question his D. I really don’t think that’s an issue at all.
Do you recall anything like that?
Saw him play out here during a call up.
I think he was covering for Ellsbury. (I’m more than willing to move on from that topic – uh?) He was fine defensively.
Slade Heathcott. Mateo – who’s featured on a different thread.
Prospects, man.
Eyyo, ducky! Honestly didn’t even catch who I was responding to at first.
He was always touted as a plus defender as a prospect, but he bulked a bit as he aged and that hype sort of diminished. Still remember him as being super athletic, though. Son of an NFL player, too.
Hard to ever let old prospect dreams die, right? Mateo was the speed demon of the future and Slade was the five-tool threat on the fast track to the bigs. I still remember dreaming big on Manny Banuelos. They can’t all work out.
Keep up the good vibes, man.
Nice.
Didn’t know about the NFL connection. Merci!
The Killer B’s, uh? Hey, at least we had Dellin. Dude was a monster out’ve the pen. Best wishes in Queens.
Kinda. ;)
There seems to be a little bit of a movement towards positive. We’ll probably be made fun of. I don’t really care. We all need to heal, grow, and understand one another better. That’s a hill I’ll defend, man.
This is as good a place as any to start that process.
Alright. Gotta crash. Jobs to build tomorrow in spite of the heat, rain, & pandemic.
Have a great night. Hope to catch back up with you soon, man.
:)
So does this mean Mountcastle’s service clock is started? That would be a questionable move considering they only need to keep him down like 7 or so games to get another year of service time
It only starts if he is on the MLB roster.
He hasn’t made the Opening Day roster, merely summer camp. They need outfield bodies right now. According to local reports they only have two OFs currently working out (see my post earlier).
Let’s sign Cashner. He could be a huge boost to our relief crew and could help the younger pitchers.
Seemed like a great teammate with success there before so I’m with ya
I wonder if Mason Williams’ walk up song is “Classical Gas…”
Instead of Williams, they’ll probably keep sending out the outfielder that can’t even throw far enough to get to the cutoff, just like they did last year, just because he has a bat. Anyone who went to the games last year know exactly who I’m talking about.
Mountcastle’s going to a 26 year old rookie by the time the Orioles give him a chance.
Lol….. that is possible. Not that Bundy was 26 but I remember them sending him up and down til he was out of options. Bundy was always injured too though, so that had a bunch to do with it.