Samuel Basallo may be the new kid on the block, but the Orioles roster is filled with talented young players. Dylan Beavers probably doesn’t care about being named a consensus Top 100 prospect over the offseason, but the 24-year-old looks up to the task anyway. Jackson Holliday still has plenty of room to develop in the field and at the dish, and Coby Mayo has just started to flash at the major league level.
When you think about it, almost every above average player on Baltimore’s roster falls into
the ‘talented young player” category. Gunnar Henderson is still only 24 years old. Jordan Westburg is only 26. Adley Rutschman, the first prospect to arrive in this era of Orioles baseball, is 27.
A combination of trades and injuries flushed away the veteran players from the active roster. Trevor Rogers, Dean Kremer, Cade Povich, and Brandon Young are all under 30. Both Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells meet the qualifications, and 35-year-0ld Tomoyuki Sugano gets a pass with his rookie card still active.
Sugano would stick out the most at a casual get together, but one player appears to have lost his “young” status in a hurry. With Ryan O’Hearn now playing in San Diego, Ryan Mountcastle quickly became the old man at first base.
The 28-year-old feels like he’s been around forever in Birdland, and the departure of Cedric Mullins and Ramón Urías only fanned the flame. Mix in a pair of prospects that require AB’s at 1B/DH, and Mountcastle must be hearing “it’s not a nursing home, it’s a retirement community” in his sleep.
It remains to be seen whether the Orioles will ask Basallo to play first base at the big league level this year, but Mayo has found a home at first. The 23-year-old struggled at third base, and the Birds have resisted any temptation to play him at the hot corner.
Mountcastle and O’Hearn platooned for years, so it’s not like a timeshare is a new concept in Birdland. O’Hearn could play right field when needed though, and Mountcastle gave up the outfield years ago. Westburg’s recent injury only further complicated the current roster construction, but the O’s will not send Mayo or Mountcastle to play in the grass.
There’s a narrative out there that the Orioles should give Mayo and Basallo every at bat, but the Orioles will not let a healthy Mountcastle ride the pine. Mountcastle still has value to provide this year and beyond.
Let’s start with the obvious: the guy can hit when healthy. Mountcastle has posted an above average OPS+ over every year of his career. His numbers are down in 2025, but he’s excelled since returning on August 8. Everyone’s favorite All Time Low fan recorded a three-hit night against Boston on Monday, and he evened the score with an RBI single last night.
Mountcastle failed to deliver the anticipated power after the Orioles moved the wall back in at Camden Yards, and he hasn’t punished lefties at his normal pace. He still chases pitches, and he rarely walks, but his Baseball Savant page still features plenty of red.
Some fans voiced displeasure when the Orioles acquired several low-level prospects at the trade deadline, but several were quick to point out that the O’s could use the pieces to acquire big leaguers in the offseason. It pays to have draft capital in the minors, but it helps to have veteran players on the block as well. The Orioles want to see Mountcastle play well over the final six weeks of the season, and they wouldn’t mind seeing his trade value spike either.
Strength-for-strength trades rarely happen at the deadline, but Mountcastle profiles as a trade candidate this offseason. The Guardians traded Spencer Horwitz to the Pirates in a three-team deal that involved Luis Ortiz (currently under MLB investigation for gambling) and a pair of pitching prospects. I’m betting the Guardians would seek out a different starter with the benefit of hindsight, but Horwitz fetched a legitimate starter and some additional pieces at the time. Horwitz is a career .262/.344/.409 hitter.
The Orioles have never been the type to keep their vets on the bench, but Mountcastle is hardly Rougned Odor. Mountcastle has a real opportunity to help the team down the stretch, and he could bring additional value to the club in the future.
The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka recently chatted with Mountcastle about his new role and the reality of playing alongside Basallo and Mayo. Mountcastle said all the right things about playing whatever role the team needs “at this point in his career.” That being said, Mounty still has plenty of talent—and a hint of youth-to provide this team (or any other team) value in the future.
