Ryan Mountcastle in 2017

[ChuckS]

Ryan just hit his second home run in his fifth game of the season tonight. 

He had 10 home runs and 28 doubles in 455 at bats last season in Delmarva.  

I'd like to see him hit 20 home runs and 30 or so doubles in his second full season. This seems like the natural progression. I imagine he's put on some size/muscle between last season and this one given his frame and a full offseason workout program.  He also needs to improve on that nearly 4:1 K to BB ratio from last season.

That middle of the order in Frederick (Hays, Mountcastle, Reyes, and Gassaway) is worth keeping an eye on.  They are all around the same age (20-21) and hopefully they can feed off each other's energy and performance and give us something to get excited about on the farm.  It's been a long time since we've had that many promising bats with one affiliate. 

 

[Ruzious]

Seems like Mountcastle should be talked about more - I rescued this thread from page 7.  At 20 for the entire season, his OPS is around .900 at Frederick.  I consider him the best bat in the O's system.  And while people focus on his lack of a position, the O's still have him at SS, and looking at some of the 2nd basemen around baseball - including the one in DC - I don't see why he can't eventually play 2nd base in the bigs.  

[webbrick2010]

Future O' infield, Schoop 3B, Manny SS, Mountcastle (2B)  ???

[Ruzious]

51 minutes ago, webbrick2010 said:

Future O' infield, Schoop 3B, Manny SS, Mountcastle (2B)  ???

I guess the question is - Can Schoop adjust to 3B?  On paper, you'd think yes - he has all the tools, but it's an instinctive position, and not all physically gifted infielders can pick it up.  Manny was the ultimate in picking up the position in record time, but Schoop - albeit in an extremely small sample size - didn't seem to have 3B instincts.  But with hard work, I like his chances.  And we know Manny wants to move back to SS.     

[Legend_Of_Joey]

27 minutes ago, Ruzious said:

I guess the question is - Can Schoop adjust to 3B?  On paper, you'd think yes - he has all the tools, but it's an instinctive position, and not all physically gifted infielders can pick it up.  Manny was the ultimate in picking up the position in record time, but Schoop - albeit in an extremely small sample size - didn't seem to have 3B instincts.  But with hard work, I like his chances.  And we know Manny wants to move back to SS.     

If not, Drew Dosch is a name to know. Currently in Norfolk due to Chris Johnson's injury, but he isn't a slouch.

[Frobby]

3 for 4 with a double and a homer today, BA to .340 and OPS to .964.     Gotta like how he's hitting.  

[Tryptamine]

So impressed with his improvement this year. Lowering that K rate by 12% while going up a level and being young for that level. He's always had that blinding bat speed, but now he's actually making consistent contact. I'd be surprised if he's not top 100  come midseason.

[McLovin]

Finally got to see him play SS this year. His arm is....not strong. It's the kind of arm you can outrun. At his size, he looks and moves a lot like Cal honestly. He gets to balls just fine. But the arm - just not strong enough. I was shocked.

Example we would see a lot - an average runner hit a ball to him, where he decided to wait for an easier hop. That decision left him no chance of getting the runner - the runner outran his arm. Ryan doesn't have the arm that will allow him to do things anything less than 100% perfectly.

[paulcoates]

Hitting .329, but he doesnt seem to be able to take a walk.  7 walks in 180 AB's

 

http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=milb&player_id=663624#/career/R/hitting/2017/ALL

[Legend_Of_Joey]

51 minutes ago, paulcoates said:

Hitting .329, but he doesnt seem to be able to take a walk.  7 walks in 180 AB's

 

http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=milb&player_id=663624#/career/R/hitting/2017/ALL

I did a bit of a comparison, using players that had over, or near, a .300 average (except Norfolk, because the only person who did only had 17 at bats...) and over over 100 at bats, along with their walk and strike out totals:

 

Delmarva

Jake Ring: 154 At Bats, 12 Walks, 46 Strike Outs, .318 Average

Chris Clare: 141 At Bats, 15 Walks, 34 Strike Outs, .298 Average

Frederick

Ryan Mountcastle: 180 At Bats, 7 Walks, 32 Strike Outs, .328 Average

Steve Wilkerson: 155 At Bats, 19 Walks, 40 Strike Outs, .323 Average

Austin Hays: 165 At Bats, 7 Walks, 25 Strike Outs, .321 Average

Randolph Gassaway: 136 At Bats, 10 Walks, 22 Strike Outs, .316 Average

Bowie

Garabez Rosa: 186 At Bats, 4 Walks, 32 Strike Outs, .339 Average

Austin Wynns: 133 At Bats, 21 Walks, 23 Strike Outs, .316 Average

Erick Salcedo: 146 At Bats, 8 Walks, 17 Strike Outs, .295 Average

Aderlin Rodriguez: 177 At Bats, 19 Walks, 32 Strike Outs, .294 Average

Norfolk

Johnny Giavotella: 171 At Bats, 21 Walks, 18 Strike Outs, .281 Average

Drew Dosch: 115 At Bats, 9 Walks, 39 Strike Outs, .261 Average

Chance Sisco: 122 At Bats, 13 Walks, 39 Strike Outs, .246 Average

 

Mountcastle might not have the least walks (thank you card sent to Rosa) or the most strike outs (enjoy the fruit baskets Ring, Clare, Wilkerson, Dosch, and Sisco), but he does have the second lowest ratio (hello again, Rosa) thru the system with that high of an average.

Two names stick out for certain things: Austin Wynns is tied with Johnny Giavotella with the lead in walks for this group. Wynns is known more for defense than offensive. Giavotella is known as someone that can get on base.

Sisco has a LOT of strike outs and a lower average for being a highly regarded hitter. Rosa has a really high average for someone that doesn't take a lot of walks and who strikes out a LOT.

Mountcastle will give you 4 strike outs to every 1 walk. Are teams pitching more at him, or is he swinging at pitches that would normally be balls? Even Wilkerson, who had 40 strike outs in Frederick, gave you 1 walk for every 2 he had.

Maybe some more batting cage time is needed?

[sportsfan8703]

7 hours ago, Legend_Of_Joey said:

Delmarva

Jake Ring: 154 At Bats, 12 Walks, 46 Strike Outs, .318 Average

Chris Clare: 141 At Bats, 15 Walks, 34 Strike Outs, .298 Average

Frederick

Ryan Mountcastle: 180 At Bats, 7 Walks, 32 Strike Outs, .328 Average

Steve Wilkerson: 155 At Bats, 19 Walks, 40 Strike Outs, .323 Average

Austin Hays: 165 At Bats, 7 Walks, 25 Strike Outs, .321 Average

Randolph Gassaway: 136 At Bats, 10 Walks, 22 Strike Outs, .316 Average

Bowie

Garabez Rosa: 186 At Bats, 4 Walks, 32 Strike Outs, .339 Average

Austin Wynns: 133 At Bats, 21 Walks, 23 Strike Outs, .316 Average

Erick Salcedo: 146 At Bats, 8 Walks, 17 Strike Outs, .295 Average

Aderlin Rodriguez: 177 At Bats, 19 Walks, 32 Strike Outs, .294 Average

Norfolk

Johnny Giavotella: 171 At Bats, 21 Walks, 18 Strike Outs, .281 Average

Drew Dosch: 115 At Bats, 9 Walks, 39 Strike Outs, .261 Average

Chance Sisco: 122 At Bats, 13 Walks, 39 Strike Outs, .246 Average

Good work compiling this.  Rep to you Sir.  

Over the years, I've learned from posters on here just how important walks are in the minors.  It's troubling that the guys that seem like "prospects" have some of the lower walk totals.  I'm not worried about Sisco, he has a good track record.  Hays and Mountcastle might need to be promoted, maybe they don't have to walk because they are so ahead of the pitching.  

Wynns looks like he's a guy that will play in the MLB.  

[Frobby]

For reasons Tony explained in another thread, strikeout rate is more important than walk rate in the lower minors.    Mountcastle's strikeout rate is good, so I'm not too fussed about his walk rate.     His numbers are terrific for a 20 year old playing in the Carolina League.    He's the fourth-youngest position player in the league and yet ranks 5th in OPS in the whole league.    

[Ruzious]

It's been pointed out a few times that walk rate in A Ball isn't particularly indicative of how a player's going to do in upper levels.  Pitchers in A Ball are... Pitchers in A Ball.  I think we're smart enough here to understand that they're not going to be savvy veterans using detailed scouting reports, and they're - for the most part - not going to be thinking about pitching around guys.  

Re Wynns, remember he's 26.  He should be a lot more mature as a player than 22 and 23 year olds, and he is.  That's a huge reason he's doing well.    

 

[Luke-OH]

Mountcastle with 2 more HRs today, this kid is going to see Bowie at age 20. 

[Luke-OH]

Well, spoke too soon, make that 3 HRs (11 for the season) 4-4 so far today.