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Baltimore Orioles: Ryan Mountcastle should win AL Rookie of the Year

By Jesse Morrison

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 05: Ryan Mountcastle #6 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates a win after a game baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 5, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 05: Ryan Mountcastle #6 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates a win after a game baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 5, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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After his call up from the alternate site in Bowie in late August, Baltimore Orioles outfielder Ryan Mountcastle was one of the best hitters in baseball.

The Baltimore Orioles rookie played in 35 games in his rookie season. He hit .333 with a .878 OPS, five home runs and 23 RBI, great numbers for a guy getting his first crack at MLB action.

He had the best season for an Orioles’ rookie since Manny Machado in 2012 and exceeded already high expectations.

Mountcastle’s play in 2020 should make him American League Rookie of the Year when it is announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on Nov. 9.

I know Mountcastle played only about a half of the 60-game season but in this weird year, a player who played 60 games versus 35 did not have enough time to separate himself from the player who played 35. Any rookie who played over 30 games should be considered for Rookie of the Year.

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Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis is the front-runner for AL Rookie of the Year, but his numbers were not great this year. In 58 games, he hit just .262 with an .801 OPS. He did have 11 home runs and 28 RBIs but six more homers and five more RBIs than Mountcastle in 23 less games should not make Lewis the shoe-in for Rookie of the Year. Also, Mountcastle’s OPS+ of 140 was 14 points higher than Lewis’ 126 OPS+.

If anyone else besides Mountcastle should win the award this year, Tigers infielder Willie Castro would be the choice. In 36 games, Castro posted a .349 average and .932 OPS. However, Castro played for a last-place Detroit Tigers team. Mountcastle’s Orioles surprised people by finishing fourth in a tough AL East.

Another reason I would vote Mountcastle if I had a vote would be what he did considering his lack of experience. Both Lewis and Castro had major league familiarity coming into their rookie seasons. Both had significant time in MLB last year (Lewis appeared in 18 games and Castro appeared in 30 games) without it impacting their rookie statuses. Mountcastle was a true rookie this year. He was fresh out of the O’s minor league system and did what he did without any experience in the big leagues whatsoever.

Next. Remembering the 2014 AL East Championship. dark

Baseball writers need to do the right thing and vote Mountcastle for AL Rookie of the Year.

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