The Orioles welcomed first baseman Ryan Mountcastle back from the injured list this morning, per a team announcement. 2023 has been a difficult season for Mountcastle, as the slugger slashed just .227/.264/.421 in 261 plate appearances before heading to the injured list with vertigo in mid-June.
Mountcastle spoke to reporters, including Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner, about his struggles with vertigo and how it impacted his hitting. He explained that he dealt with waves of dizziness that made baseball appear to be the size of a pea while he was in the batters’ box prior to going onto the IL, and that while he’s felt better in recent days, there’s no way of knowing whether the issues with crop up again in the future. For now Mountcastle figures to join the club’s outfield and DH mix alongside the likes of Ryan O’Hearn, Aaron Hicks, and Anthony Santander.
More from around the AL East…
- The Yankees received a pair of positive injury updates today regarding their pitching staff. Right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga threw off a mound for the first time since going on the IL back in April, as manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including Max Goodman of NJ Advance Media). Meanwhile, left-hander Nestor Cortes threw a 20-pitch live bullpen session today, as relayed by MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. Both Boone and Cortes indicated the session went well, with Cortes adding that his next bullpen session will take place this coming Thursday. While Loaisiga has thrown just 3 1/3 innings this season and Cortes has struggled with a 5.16 ERA across 11 starts this season, the return of both players before season’s end would surely provide a boost to the Yankees, given their past successes.
- Blue Jays left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu is poised to take the mound for Toronto’s Single-A affiliate in Dunedin today, per an announcement by the minor league club. Ryu, 36, is rehabbing after undergoing Tommy John surgery last season and, per MLB.com, was sitting 87-88 with his fastball during his previous rehab outing in the Florida Complex League. That velocity isn’t far from where he’s expected to be at the big league level, and MLB.com indicates that Ryu could return “within the month” after building up to take on a starter’s workload. Ryu’s return could help shore up Toronto’s rotation depth down the stretch, an area that GM Ross Atkins highlighted as a focus ahead of the trade deadline on August 1.
I wish Mountcastle all the best, and I think he made a mistake by saying the vertigo could come back at any time in the future. Teams tend to stay away from players when there’s a possibility of something like that happening again.
Nick Esasky came down with vertigo after having a monster year, it immediately ended his ML career.
Him saying that won’t cause it to recur. It’s probably what doctors told him.
Nick Senzel would have been a super star in this league if it wasn’t for vertigo. Doubtful Mountcastle will make a full recovery
Don’t you think the rest of his fragile body parts were bigger factors? He’s had visits to the IL for a torn finger ligament, torn labrum and repeated knee issues. I think those have been bigger impediments to his baseball greatness.
It’s not his fragile body that was the problem is was the Reds playing him out of position. They ruined his chance at being a star all because they had too many 3b.
The Blue Jays sure have lucked out with their healthy pitching staff…have they even lost one significant member to the IL ??? And now they will have Ryu back shortly.
Manoah had mine issues for six weeks. I am sure they wished he had an injury.
Mine issues are mostly problematic for submariners.
Blue Jays don’t have the starting pitching depth to wish for that kind of loss.
Jimmy Stewart wasn’t much after Vertigo either.
“For now Mountcastle figures to join the club’s outfield and DH mix alongside the likes of Ryan O’Hearn, Aaron Hicks, and Anthony Santander.”
Pretty sure Mountcastle won’t be seen in the OF. As an O’s fan, I feel bad that he’s dealing with vertigo and wish him well. Unfortunately, I can see the O’s selling low and moving on from him, especially with O’Hearn playing well.
I’m guessing they mean First Base/DH mix as Mountcastle hasn’t played the OF since 2021 and the O’s are currently 5 deep in the OF (6 if you consider that Adam Frazier has played 5 games out there this season)
O’s have a bit of a logjam now after the call ups and players off the IL with all the position players. A trade of one for a pitcher at the deadline might be a good move.
Mountcastle should be packaged and moved quickly.
Agreed but should have been done off season. Struggles were becoming evident last season. Young, cheap, team control, power hitter. Could’ve gotten something of high quality in return. Today, possibly someone like the Rockies with that hitter friendly park would be interested in him? Maybe the Os get a Pierce Johnson and a prospect in return?
Jeff – agreed. Mountcastle is what he is, a .250 to .260 guy who will hit 25 to 30 HR, not walk a lot, and will strike out a ton. Having O’Hearn emerge combined with Santander continuing better production (hits for higher average, similar power, and walks more) makes Mountcastle expendable. Now with Kjerstad not far away and the crowd in the OF, Mountcastle isn’t that much a loss.
I was thinking “sell high on Santander” last winter but that would have applied to Mountcastle too. Not sure what they’d get at this point for him, they can always use another reliever since they seem intent on not getting starters.
Mounty back with an immediate RBI feels good.