Thoughts on Stewart's demotion, Mountcastle's inevitable arrival

Is the path clearer for Ryan Mountcastle to make his major league debut?

Can an hour pass without someone asking why he's still at the Bowie camp site?

There's absolutely no doubt that Mountcastle is going to play for the Orioles this summer, and it could happen at any minute with his service time unaffected by a promotion. There are no excuses beyond the organization's mandate that he must be able to handle left field rather than serve exclusively as the designated hitter and must exhibit improved plate discipline and pitch recognition.

"He's been applying himself toward that in Bowie and we've got some tools in place to help him get feedback on his swing decisions," executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said recently, "and I know that he's waiting for his opportunity up here."

He isn't the only one. Fans are on the edge of their seats.

This really is about making certain that Mountcastle does more than just reach the majors. He's got to be equipped to stay here. No back-and-forth between Baltimore and Bowie, or majors and Triple-A in a normal year.

They won't put Mountcastle on a string and treat him like a yo-yo. It's been done with others and leads to heavy criticism, usually from the guys who can't stay off the shuttle.

DJ Stewart basically was handed left field with Trey Mancini out for the season. He should be commended for working his way back from ankle surgery and making the opening day roster. But Stewart threw away his shot by going 0-for-14 with eight strikeouts.

Not from a lack of effort or desire. Maybe he wanted it too much. The "pressing" theory has been applied by his manager.

Rosters holding at 28 players rather than going down to 26 in a few weeks improves Stewart's chances of rejoining the active roster. He won't be buried in Bowie. And Cedric Mullins hasn't cemented his spot while going 1-for-12. But he offers a different set of tools with speed and ability to play center field.

The challenges for Stewart are that he must keep his spirits up rather than let this experience break him, and he somehow has to thrust himself back into the outfield rotation despite the presence of Austin Hays, Anthony Santander, Dwight Smith Jr. and, ultimately, one of the top prospects in the organization who is standing on the figurative deck.

A few people in the organization didn't agree with Stewart's selection as the 25th overall player chosen in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft. Comparisons were made to Jack Cust and not intended as flattery. But the Orioles had a glaring need for outfielders in the system and Stewart was an obvious pick on paper.

Stewart was the first outfielder taken by the Orioles in the first round since Nick Markakis in 2003. He posted a .318 average as a junior with 15 home runs, 59 RBIs, a .500 on-base percentage and 69 walks, which led the nation. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference's Player of the Year as a sophomore after batting .351/.472/.557.

Baseball America rated Stewart as the 30th-best player in the draft, so he wasn't exactly a reach. Here's their scouting report:

The Yankees drafted Stewart in the 28th round in 2012 out of Jacksonville's Bolles School, where he had won five state championships (three in football, two in baseball). He chose not to sign and went on to Florida State, where he has built a strong track record of success. He was the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year as a sophomore and led the league in all three triple-slash categories with a line of .351/.472/.557, and in 2015 he was leading the nation with 62 walks and ranked third with a .525 OBP as the season neared its close. Stewart has a quick swing, good plate discipline and the strength to drive the ball, and he'd set a new career high with 12 home runs. He has managed to make his unorthodox stance work in college, but scouts aren't sold that it will work at the next level. He crouches very low at the plate, which can make it tougher for him to unleash his raw power. Many scouts believe that if he just stands up a little taller, he'll be able to turn on inside pitches with more consistency and tap into more of his power. Stewart is listed at 6-feet, 230 pounds, but has more athleticism than his frame suggests. He was a running back in high school and his fringe-average speed allows him to cover ground well in the outfield. His below-average arm strength likely limits him to left field, but his powerful bat fits that profile.

The Orioles convinced Stewart to come out of the crouch.

The criticisms from within the organization also had to be examined closely to make certain that they weren't really aimed at the men making the decision. As you may recall, not everyone was on the same page in those days.

Stewart is a really good guy - again, at the risk of triggering the "who cares?" crowd - and is going to bust his tail trying to get back to the majors. The Orioles don't need to worry about his work habits.

The issue now is the circumstances beyond his control, like Mountcastle's ascension, and how a roster frozen at 28 players still may not have room for him.

Mountcastle always seems to be on Stewart's heel. The Orioles used the 36th overall pick in the same draft to select him.

Baseball America rated Mountcastle as the 122nd-best player in the draft.

It's a reach to think that he's going to stay at the Bowie camp for the rest of the summer.