Orioles remove Mountcastle, Stewart, Asher from camp roster

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

March 12, 2018, 7:48am

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BRADENTON, Fla. - The Orioles made three more cuts this morning to get their roster down to 45, optioning pitcher Alec Asher to Triple-A Norfolk and reassigning infielder Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder DJ Stewart to minor league camp.

Mountcastle, 21, will continue to play third base, though he's also been taking fly balls on the back fields. His bat delivered two tape-measure home runs, including a three-run shot yesterday to right-center field against the Red Sox in Fort Myers. He was 7-for-24 (.292) with three doubles, two homers, five RBIs and nine strikeouts in 13 games.

Stewart, 24, played left and right field this spring while also receiving his first spring training invitation. Following a breakout year at Double-A Bowie, Stewart went 4-for-19 with one RBI.

Asher, 26, wasn't included in the starter competition and didn't figure to crack the bullpen despite three openings. He made three appearances this spring and allowed two runs and four hits in six innings.

All of the scoring came in his most recent outing Friday afternoon against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.

Asher has one minor league option remaining.

The Orioles have 22 pitchers in camp including closer Zach Britton, who's on the 60-day disabled list. Gabriel Ynoa is shut down with shin splints.

The tarp is on the field at LECOM Park as a light rain continues to fall.