Dean Jones Report

Dean’s Dozen: Our Top 12 Orioles prospects for the 2017 season

By Dean Jones

Posted on November 3, 2016

No. 3

Ryan Mountcastle, SS

2016 Statistics: .281, 10 HRs, 51 RBIs, 28 2Bs in 115 games (Delmarva)
MILB.com Player Page

Mountcastle, who will turn 20 in February, couldn’t have started off much worse in his first opportunity with a full-season team. The 2015 first-round selection (36th overall) batted .162 with 22 strikeouts and just four extra-base hits in 18 games in April. But he turned things around over the next two months, hitting .337 (57-for-169) with four home runs, 13 doubles and 20 RBIs in 44 games through the end of June. While some observers believe Mountcastle’s arm isn’t strong enough for him to remain at shortstop, the club appears committed to him there for now. Still, he made 21 errors in 2016, so it’s clear that his defense is the biggest concern currently. Perhaps a switch to another less-demanding position could allow Mountcastle to continue to dominate at the plate as he progresses through the organization.

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