Ryan Mountcastle excited to start first full season in MLB

Ryan Mountcastle is ready for a special day: his first opening day in the major leagues. His first game last year was on Aug. 21. Today he is in the Orioles lineup as cleanup hitter and DH for the season opener at Boston.

It's a big milestone.

"Yeah, for sure," he said. "I've gone to big league spring training four or five times and I've gotten sent down every time. The first time I get to break with the club it's definitely a surreal moment and something I'll cherish, for sure."

And after a very successful first season, one that covered 35 games and 140 plate appearances, Mountcastle is ready for season two. One that figures to include many more games and the adjustments of pitchers looking to get him out with more regularity.

"I mean, they're going to do their scouting reports and all that stuff," Mountcastle said during a Zoom session with reporters. "They are going to try to do whatever they can to get me out. It's up to me whether I want to adjust or not. You know, that is a part of the game."

In 2020, Mountcastle batted .333/.386/.492 with five homers, five doubles, 23 RBIs and an .878 OPS, which was 40 percent above league average. His walk rate was 7.9 percent, just below the league average of 8.3. His strikeout rate of 21.4 was below the league average of 21.8.

Now we will see how this life-long Floridian handles the chill of the northeast, with temperatures around game time today expected to be in the 40-degree range.

"I haven't played in weather like this much in my career, but I've got to get used to it at some point, I guess," said Mountcastle.

Mountcastle hit well on the road and against right-handers last season. He faces Boston righty Nathan Eovaldi today and his 97 mph fastballs. He hit .354/.406/.542 with a .947 OPS versus right-handers in 2020. His OPS was .902 on the road, and it was .848 at home.

He is not playing defense today, but he could get cozy with the Green Monster in left later in this series.

"I mean, I played there a little bit last year a couple of games," he said. "Anything over your head is off the monster. You have to play it off the wall. It almost feels like you're in the shortstop's back pocket playing out there because it's so shallow too. You know, I wouldn't say it's too difficult, but it's definitely different."

Mountcastle will have some family at the game today to include his little brother, stepfather and his girlfriend and her family.

Today he begins a season when a lot is expected of him. But that's been pretty much true since his draft day. He is being considered as a leading contender for the American League Rookie of the Year award.

"You know, I've just got to go out there and play my game," he said. "If I do that, I think I have a pretty good shot at getting it. You know, I'm not really going to press to try to win any awards, or anything like that."