Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle is dealing with an injury during spring training.
The Baltimore Orioles received good news on Thursday involving first baseman Ryan Mountcastle after he exited a spring training game earlier this week.
Mountcastle left Wednesday’s matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates after appearing to injure his right hand during the game during a hit-by-pitch. The sudden exit created concern for Baltimore, especially as the club continues preparing its roster for the upcoming season.
Any potential injury would have been a frustrating development for Mountcastle, who is looking to bounce back after a difficult 2025 campaign. Because the incident involved his hand, a critical area for any hitter, the Orioles quickly sent him for imaging to determine the severity of the issue.
Fortunately for both Mountcastle and the Orioles, the initial results provided some relief. “X‑rays on Ryan Mountcastle’s right hand were negative for a fracture,” reported Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports.
While that update does not guarantee Mountcastle will return immediately, it significantly reduces the likelihood of a long‑term absence. The Orioles will continue monitoring his condition as he recovers from the scare.
For Mountcastle, staying healthy this spring is particularly important as he attempts to regain the form that once made him one of the more promising young hitters in Baltimore’s lineup.
The 2025 season marked the most difficult year of his career at the big-league level. Across 89 games, Mountcastle posted a .250 batting average with a .286 on‑base percentage and .653 OPS. The 29-year-old also recorded just seven home runs and 35 RBIs, a notable drop from the power production he displayed earlier in his career.
Those struggles have contributed to increasing uncertainty surrounding his role with the organization.
Mountcastle was originally selected by Baltimore in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft and was once viewed as a core part of the franchise’s future. However, the team’s roster has evolved in recent years, and the situation at first base has become more complicated.
Baltimore added right-handed slugger Pete Alonso in MLB free agency to handle first‑base duties, while the Orioles outfield depth has also grown more crowded with plenty of emerging, young players.
That shift has left Mountcastle’s long‑term role with the club somewhat unclear as he enters his sixth season in the majors.
For now, though, the primary focus is simply getting him back on the field. The Orioles remain hopeful that the injury scare proves minor, allowing Mountcastle to return soon and continue working toward a rebound season in 2026.