Since his return from IL, this Orioles slugger has been unstoppable
After missing a month due to experiencing vertigo, Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle has been one of the most feared batters since his return and one of the driving forces behind the Orioles' success.
After an up-and-down first half of the season, he has been locked in at the plate for the American League East squad.
In his 24 games since his injury, Mountcastle is slashing .408/.463/.676 with 11 XBH and 14 RBIs while helping the Orioles achieve a 16-8 record during that span.
Not only has Mountcastle hit everything that has been thrown his way, but he also has done something no other Orioles hitter has done in the Statcast era.
Facing Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez, Mountcastle deposited an 0-2 pitch 472 feet into the left-center bleachers. That is the furthest recorded home run hit by an Orioles batter at Camden Yards since 2015, Mountcastle sent fans into a frenzy with his moonshot.
After bursting onto the scene in 2021 with 33 home runs and 89 RBI in 144 games, he took a step back last season with only 22 home runs and 85 RBI in 145 games played and saw his production dip in nearly every offensive category.
Not due to become an unrestricted free agent until the 2027 offseason, Mountcastle looks like a franchise cornerstone to build around with all of the young talent they have in their farm system including the number one prospect in baseball according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo.
With the best record in the American League at 71-44, the Orioles trail only the Atlanta Braves by one game for the best record in baseball.
The Orioles and Mountcastle both will look to continue their strong play as they look to clinch the organization's first postseason berth since 2016 and will look for their first playoff victory since the AL Division Series in 2014.
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