SARASOTA—With Pete Alonso’s signing, playing time at first base could be rare for Coby Mayo and Ryan Mountcastle. For the final two months of the 2025 season, Mayo and Mountcastle started every game at first base—except for one. Samuel Basallo started that one.
Last season, Alonso started 160 games at first base for the New York Mets. He was the designated hitter for the other two. The 31-year-old slugger hit 38 home runs and has hit 264 since his rookie season in 2019.
Mountcastle, who missed more than two months with a hamstring injury last year, is in his final season before he’s eligible for free agency, and there was some question the Orioles would even offer him a contract for 2026. Mountcastle signed a one-year, $1.687 million contract for this season with an option for 2027.
“I just take it day-by-day. I didn’t try to think too much about it,” he said. “I’m just going to be here and have a good time and put in the work.”
Mountcastle is looking forward to getting to know Alonso.
“Him helping me out, me helping him out, however we can,” he said.
Mountcastle was drafted by the Orioles in 2015 and is close to his teammates. He doesn’t look forward to playing elsewhere.
“I love all the guys here,” he said. “This is all I’ve ever known. I love it here. Whatever happens, whatever happens.”
It was a good offseason for Mountcastle, who’ll turn 29 next Wednesday.
“Trying to feel healthy, bigger, faster, stronger, just getting the swing back together, taking all the ground balls I can and trying to get better,” he said. “Still working out at first and doing whatever I can to help out the team.”
Last season, Mountcastle played in just 89 games, hitting .250 with seven home runs and 35 RBIs with .653 OPS. After returning from his hamstring injury, Mountcastle started just seven games at first base, none after September 15th.
“Got off to a bit of a slow start, started to heat up, had that tough injury there and came back and just had sporadic playing time,” he said. “Not how we wanted to finish the season, but we’re on to the next.”
Mountcastle hopes to be an important part of the team.
“I’m treating it the same. I’m going out there and putting in the work,” he said. “Where the chips fall, that’s what happens. I’m going to be where my feet are at, just do what I can do and have a good time with my boys.”
The 24-year-old Mayo got most of the starts at first base in the last two months of 2025. He had a brutal August, hitting just .136, but perked up in September with a .301 average and a .941 OPS. Overall, he hit .217 with a .687 OPS, 11 home runs and 28 RBIs.
“I was really proud the way I finished last year,” Mayo said. “It gave me confidence knowing going into the offseason that I can be a really good big league player, not just offensively, but defensively. I thought I played really good at first. I thought I carried myself well for that month.
“I was proud to look up at the numbers at the end of the year and see where I finished. I didn’t think that was going to be in the cards at all.”
Even with second baseman Jackson Holliday set to begin the season on the injured list because of a broken hamate bone in his right hand, there doesn’t appear to be a clear path for both Mayo and Mountcastle to make the Opening Day roster.
“There could be trades happening,” Mayo said. “It wouldn’t be a shocker to anybody. You know the situation you’re in and you have to not worry about the future and live in the moment, and that’s what I did all offseason, just worried about where my feet were at and working really hard in the gym, in the cages and in the field, trying to be the best player I can be. Whatever happens, happens. Right now, I’m here, and I’m going to do what I can to help the team out.”
Mayo was primarily a third baseman and put in hard work at first last season with senior advisor John Mabry. It’s possible that he could play some at third base and perhaps in the outfield.
“I’ve been working at third a good bit right now. First, obviously, still,” he said. “As far as other positions, not yet. I haven’t heard anything. Whatever they want me to do, I’m going to do, just want to be available for any position they want me to play.”
He played only three games at third base last season, none after May 6th.
“First was great. Third was a little different because of the throwing aspect,” he said. “You’re not taking those reps at third every day, throwing across. The footwork’s a little different. You don’t have as much time. It’s a little different, but you kind of get going a little bit once things go on. I played that position for a long time, so I don’t think it’s too crazy to say that it’s not going to take too long to feel normal again.”
Mayo realizes there might not be much time at first.
“Pete Alonso’s one of the best first basemen in the league,” he said. “As a player on this team, you have to be super happy for this organization and the fans that they went out for a big fish, and they got him. It’s great for the team. As far as myself, I’ve just got to play well. I think if I play well, good things happen. When you hit, I think there are going to be opportunities there, no matter what.”
Mayo thinks he can learn from Alonso.
“I think he’s made a good living for himself, hitting in this league. He’s been really good defensively, too, off his picks and saving runs. I think you can learn a lot from a big league talent like him. I’m excited to get working with him a little bit, just see where all that goes.”
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