Orioles’ Hyde on Mountcastle’s struggles: ‘Looks like a guy who’s trying way too hard’; Handley gets his chance

BALTIMORE—Ryan Mountcastle is the Orioles’ designated hitter and batting fourth against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.

Mountcastle is hitless in his last 15 at-bats and is hitting just .198 with a .529 OPS. He has just five extra-base hits, and his only home run came on April 12^th. He hasn’t driven in a run since April 15^th, his fifth of the season.

When executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias announced that Camden Yards’ left-field wall would be brought in, Mountcastle was considered the player most likely to benefit. He lost 11 home runs to the deeper left field from 2022-2024

“I don’t know if the wall has anything to do with it,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “I just think he’s really going through it. I thought he was hitting the ball hard early and not having success. It looks like a guy who’s trying way too hard, and we’re trying to relax him and slow the game down a little bit. “

Mountcastle’s numbers weren’t awful last year. He hit .271 with a .733 OPS with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs, but he hit only two home runs after July 6^th.

“He’s not taking it to his defense,” Hyde said. “He’s playing excellent defense for us at first base. I consider it Gold Glove defense, the way he’s been playing, so I give him credit for that. We know the ability that Mounty has, and he’s not chasing as much, honestly as he has in the past. Just not really happening right now. It’s going to. He’s too good of a hitter He’s too good of a hitter for this to go on much longer.”

Handley gets his chance

Maverick Handley was the Orioles’ sixth-round draft pick in 2019, and he’s been waiting for his major league chance since then. Handley has often served as the team’s taxi squad catcher, and on Monday received word he was being promoted to the major league roster when Gary Sánchez went to the 10-day injured list with right wrist inflammation.

Handley was hitting .346 with a home run and five RBIs in 15 games with Triple-A Norfolk.

“I’m waiting for those stats to start appearing on the back of the baseball card, for sure,” Handley said.

Handley heard the news about 45 minutes before Monday’s game.

“I’m not shellshocked because I’ve been in the locker room,” he said. “I’ve hit [batting practice] in the field. I’ve heard the ‘O’ in the national anthem.”

Hyde was delighted to give Handley the news.

“That was a great feeling yesterday, telling him,” Hyde said. “Seeing the players’ reaction, guys that have know Mav, coming through the minor leagues with him … You could see the smile on his face. Those are the special moments.

“Mav’s such a great guy. He’s having a great year in Triple-A, and he can really catch … had a good spring training for us. We really like the person. For him to get this opportunity, we’re happy for him.”

Sanchez hoping for quick return

Sánchez is eligible to return on May 8^th.

“It’s been bothering me a little bit for a few weeks now,” Sánchez said through a translator about his wrist. “Some days it’s doing good. Some days, it’s not as well. So I thought it was the best decision to put a stop to it right now and get some rest and recover rather than continuing to push through it … I wasn’t helping the team as it was, so I think it’s best to get some rest, recover and come back ready to go.”

Sánchez is hitting .100 (3-for-30).

“At the point of contact is when I started feeling the discomfort,” Sánchez said. “Not necessarily throwing, just with my swing.”

Notes: To make room for Kyle Gibson, who’ll start Tuesday night’s game against the Yankees, the Orioles optioned right-hander Kade Strowd back to Triple-A Norfolk after Monday night’s game. Strowd was on the roster only for Monday’s game, and did not pitch. … Trevor Rogers, who’s rehabbing his right knee injury, has moved to Norfolk from Double-A Chesapeake. … Emmanuel Rivera was added to the roster before Monday’s game to replace infielder Jordan Westburg, who’s on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Rivera hit .308 in 17 games with Norfolk. Last year, he hit .313 with four home runs and 14 RBIs and a .948 OPS in 27 games with the Orioles. He agreed to a $1 million contract but was taken off the 40-man roster on February 7^th. “I knew it was only a matter of time. Sooner or later I’d get another opportunity,” he said through a team translator.

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