Ryan Mountcastle on recent hot hitting and more, plus another win on the road trip

Getting to play pro baseball has always been important to the Orioles Ryan Mountcastle. Even long before they drafted him No. 36 overall in the 2015 MLB Draft out of Paul J. Haggerty High School in Florida.

Back then he had designs on being a big league player and that dream came true for him for the first time in August of 2020.

But Mountcastle’s love for the sport perhaps grew even stronger recently when he dealt with vertigo and watched his stats suffer and then missed time on the injured list.

“New appreciation for baseball, life, everything,” he said during the Seattle series. “That was a tough three weeks for me mentally and just to be back I’m super grateful.”

When the Orioles beat Seattle 1-0 in 10 innings Saturday, it was Mountcastle who drove in the game’s only run. He hit a 101-mph pitch from Seattle’s Andres Munoz to center field. It left his bat at 109.5 mph.

I asked Mountcastle what he draws on to try and be relaxed in a game-on-the-line spot?

“I just try to think, no at-bat is bigger than the others. Just try to stay even keel and just try to get a good pitch to hit. Thankfully I got a nice kick off the mound and it went into center,” he said.

Heading into the San Diego series Mountcastle had hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games, batting .442/.500/.692/1.192.

He has hit the ball often recently to right and right-center.

“I think they are working me away,” he said. “But I never want to pull off the ball so staying in the middle of the field is always a good approach for me. And it keeps me on the ball.”

Friday Mountcastle drew two walks, just his sixth game this year with two walks and four have come since July 25.

“Seems like I am seeing it pretty well and just trying to swing at pitches I know I can hit. Whether that be a strike or not, just get a ball I know I can barrel up,” he said about the increase in base on balls.

Since the All-Star break, Mountcastle ranks third in the majors batting .395 and is 13^th in OPS at 1.087.

He and the Orioles are enjoying life at the top of the AL East. Mountcastle said there is more than young talent at work here. There is great team chemistry and camaraderie that leads to winning too.

“It’s huge. If you are not enjoying coming to the clubhouse every day, I doubt your team is going to be very good. We have a great group of guys and it’s really fun to come here and even hang out before all the games.

“We keep things loose and have fun. If you don’t like your teammates, it’s not fun and sometimes people play selfish ball, it’s not conducive to winning. But this is a great group, and we always have each other’s backs. 

O's now 3-1 on West Coast swing: Make it three straight wins on the road trip as the Orioles beat San Diego 4-1 Monday night. The Orioles (74-45) have won three in a row, 15 of 22 and 25 of their past 35 games. San Diego (56-63) has lost seven of its past eight games.

Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez threw a gem, allowing one run over seven innings on 95 pitches. He now has an ERA of 3.03 in six starts since he returned from the minors.

The Orioles improved to 38-11 when their starting pitcher provides a quality start and to 15-1 when their starter goes seven innings or more.

The Orioles are 3-1 on their road trip despite scoring just 12 runs in those games. In winning the past three, the team has allowed just four runs. 

The Orioles have now gone 78 straight series without being swept. Tampa Bay also won so the O's lead remains three games atop the AL East. 

For more on the win from San Diego, click here.