IL notes: Mountcastle looking for a home
Settling on a position for Ryan Mountcastle might be the only issue that hasn't been solved.In his first Triple-A campaign, the Orioles' No. 2 prospect has demonstrated a consistent hitting stroke for the Norfolk Tides. And while this also has been Mountcastle's first season as a first baseman, he has dabbled
Settling on a position for Ryan Mountcastle might be the only issue that hasn't been solved.
In his first Triple-A campaign, the Orioles' No. 2 prospect has demonstrated a consistent hitting stroke for the Norfolk Tides. And while this also has been Mountcastle's first season as a first baseman, he has dabbled in the outfield.
"Definitely, he has played more at first base this year," Tides manager Gary Kendall said. "It's hard to learn a new position when you get to Triple-A."
Actually, Mountcastle is learning two of them.
He was drafted as a shortstop, shifted to third base and then to first. He's been used in left field a few times this year so the organization also can take a look at him there. Which position he plays isn't an issue on which Mountcastle puts much emphasis.
"I don't really care," he said. "Whatever they need in the big leagues, wherever they need me."
Mountcastle might be in this experimental stage because he's 22 years old. He was the second-youngest member of the International League team earlier this month at the Triple-A All-Star Game.
"He has just been consistent," Kendall said. "When you get to the halfway point of the season and are 22, that's what you like to see. He hits in the middle of the lineup and has handled that. For this league, I don't know how many guys are 22."
For Mountcastle, his youth doesn't necessarily translate to less experience. He was a first-round Draft pick in 2015.
"I've been playing with older guys since I was drafted," he said.
The Florida native has been hitting over .300 for most of the season, accompanied by solid power numbers. Eight of his 17 homers came in June, boosted by a three-homer day against Louisville.
"I feel like I've been holding my own," Mountcastle said. "I've done my part, but there's a lot of season left."
Pitchers have altered their approaches, so Kendall has been interested in seeing the response.
"They try to change things on him," the manager said. "They're not going to make it easy for him."
Kendall has been with Mountcastle for a few years and notices growth in several areas.
"I've seen his body change and his personality is a little more outgoing," Kendall said, liking the potential leadership qualities.
Mountcastle has added to his 6-foot-3 frame, getting up to 215 pounds, so maybe he's starting to look like a first baseman … or a power-hitting corner outfielder.
"I put on some good weight this offseason," he said. "I feel good right now."
In brief
On the run: Buoyed by a 15-game hitting streak in June, Toledo OF Jacob Robson broke out of a spring slump and has grabbed the league lead with 19 stolen bases. Twelve of those thefts have come since early June. The Mud Hens haven't had a player reach 20 stolen bases since Ezequiel Carrera and Hernán Pérez in 2014.
Century watch:Lucas Sims struck out a league-leading102 batters for Louisville prior to last week's callup to Cincinnati. That gave the right-hander at least 100 punchouts in seven straight Minor League seasons. He was on the mound for Gwinnett for parts of the past three seasons before a 2018 Trade Deadline deal from the Atlanta organization.
Meet the team?: The two-time reigning Governors' Cup champion Durham Bulls have had significant roster overhaul due to trades, promotions, injuries and outfielder Jake Smolinski signing to play in Korea. By last weekend, All-Star 2B Kean Wong was the only Bull in the starting lineup who was a holdover from the Opening Night lineup. For the second year in a row, Wong is contending for the league batting title.
Bob Sutton is a contributor to MiLB.com.
RockHounds Win Finale to Take Series from Missions
MIDLAND, Texas (May 18, 2025) – Starter Chen Zhuang bookended the series between the San Antonio Missions (19-20) and Midland RockHounds (23-16) with wins for the home team. His six innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts along with a pair of homers from Junior Perez did more than enough
Missions Mount Late Comeback, Hang on to Defeat RockHounds
MIDLAND, Texas (May 17, 2025) – With two outs in the ninth inning and the tying-run 90-feet away, Manuel Castro fanned Caeden Trenkle to pick up his fourth save of the season and secure a 7-6 win for the San Antonio Missions (19-19) over the Midland RockHounds (22-16). After losing
Missions Pound Season-High 21 Hits, Survive Wild Game in Midland
MIDLAND, Texas (May 16, 2025) – The Permian Basin famously served as the inspiration for Friday Night Lights, an iconic drama that turned into a book, movie and TV series. On this Friday night under the lights in Midland, not even that script could match what went on in the
Big Night for Roberts Not Enough as RockHounds Storm Back to Beat Missions
MIDLAND, Texas (May 15, 2025) – Despite jumping out to a 5-0 lead, the San Antonio Missions (17-19) gave up nine unanswered runs at one point and fell 9-6 to the Midland RockHounds (22-14). Cody Roberts finished a double shy of the cycle for the Missions, driving in four runs
RockHounds Silence Missions on Wednesday Night
MIDLAND, Texas (May 14, 2025) – Left-hander Greg Jump tossed six scoreless innings in his Double-A debut to help the Midland RockHounds (21-14) shut out the San Antonio Missions (17-18). Jump, an LSU product, earned the win, while Victor Lizarraga suffered the 6-0 defeat. A Junior Perez two-run homer, three
19 Hits Give RockHounds Series Opener Over Missions
MIDLAND, Texas (May 13, 2025) – The Midland RockHounds (20-14) pounded 19 hits in a 14-6 Tuesday afternoon win against the San Antonio Missions (17-17). The 19 hits are the most allowed by the Missions so far in 2025. Henry Bolte drove in four runs on four hits and finished
Valenzuela’s Eighth-Inning Homer Secures Series Split for San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO (May 11, 2025) – Brandon Valenzuela started the two-week homestand with a walk-off homer against Corpus Christi last Tuesday, and he finished it with a game-winning homer in the eighth inning on Sunday afternoon to give the San Antonio Missions (17-16) a 2-1 victory and series split against
Sanabria Calls Game, Blasts Walk-Off Homer Against Frisco
SAN ANTONIO (May 10, 2025) – Down to their final out, Romeo Sanabria crushed a walk-off two-run homer to give the San Antonio Missions (16-16) an exhilarating 2-1 win over the Frisco RoughRiders (20-12). The Missions had been held hitless into the sixth inning by Frisco starter Mitch Bratt, but
RoughRiders Squeeze by Oat Milkers
SAN ANTONIO (May 9, 2025) – The San Antonio Missions (15-16), playing as the Malmo Oat Milkers, placed the tying-run in scoring position in the ninth inning but ultimately fell short against the Frisco RoughRiders (20-11) in a 4-3 loss. The game began as a pitcher’s duel between Jagger Haynes
Frisco Takes Rain-Soaked Matchup with Flying Chanclas
SAN ANTONIO (May 8, 2025) – After a 1-hour and 23-minute rain delay, the Frisco RoughRiders (19-11) used 12 hits and five Flying Chanclas de San Antonio (15-15) errors to win 12-6 on Thursday night. Nick Krauth took home the victory out of the bullpen while San Antonio starter Victor
RoughRiders Combine to No-Hit Missions
SAN ANTONIO (May 7, 2025) – Kohl Drake, Ryan Lobus and Skylar Hales combined to throw a no-hitter for the Frisco RoughRiders (18-11) against the San Antonio Missions (15-14) on Wednesday afternoon at Wolff Stadium. For Frisco, it’s their sixth no-hitter in franchise history and first since July 29, 2011,
Missions Take Advantage of Big Innings to Rout Frisco in Opener
SAN ANTONIO (May 6, 2025) – The San Antonio Missions (15-13) welcomed the Frisco RoughRiders (17-11) to the Alamo City with an offensive outburst, scoring nine runs on ten hits and riding the arm of Braden Nett's first win to a 9-2 rout. The game marked the opening of a
Missions Walk-Off Hooks, Earn Series Split
SAN ANTONIO (May 4, 2025) – After starting off the homestand with a walk-off win over the Corpus Christi Hooks (9-18), the San Antonio Missions (14-13) came from behind and walked-off the Hooks for the second time to earn a series split on Sunday. A Moisés Gómez sacrifice fly scored
Merrill Singles Twice as Missions Get Back in Win Column
SAN ANTONIO (May 3, 2025) – An eventful evening in San Antonio, which included Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill’s addition to the lineup for a rehab assignment and a Top Gun themed game, was capped off with a 4-1 win for the San Antonio Missions (13-13) over the Corpus Christi Hooks
Hooks Hold Off Missions on Friday Night
SAN ANTONIO (May 2, 2025) – Despite a solid performance by starter Victor Lizarraga, costly errors and a quiet night with the bats resulted in a 5-3 loss for the San Antonio Missions (12-13) to the Corpus Christi Hooks (9-16). Lizarraga got the start in the fourth game of a
San Antonio’s Bats Quieted by Corpus Christi
SAN ANTONIO (May 1, 2025) – In a well-pitched ball game for both teams on Thursday night, the Corpus Christi Hooks (8-16) got the best of the Flying Chanclas de San Antonio (12-12) in a 3-1 game. Despite a solo home run by Catcher Brandon Valenzuela, the Hooks took the
Hooks Take Wednesday Night Matchup at The Wolff
SAN ANTONIO (April 30, 2025) – The Corpus Christi Hooks (7-16) broke a tie in the fifth and never looked back, defeating the San Antonio Missions (12-11) by a score of 8-2 on Wednesday night. San Antonio starter Braden Nett took the loss while Hooks starter Trey Dombrowski claimed the
Valenzuela Crushes Walk-Off Homer as Missions Blank Hooks
SAN ANTONIO (April 29, 2025) – With the game locked at zero in the bottom of the ninth inning, Brandon Valenzuela clobbered a walk-off home run to give the San Antonio Missions (12-10) a thrilling 2-0 win over the Corpus Christi Hooks (6-16). Henry Bàez, the Missions’ starter, sparkled through
Missions Shortstop Francisco Acuña Mashes His Way to Texas League Player of the Week Award
SAN ANTONIO (April 28, 2025) — Four home runs, including a game-winning blast on Thursday night in Amarillo, paved the way for Missions shortstop Francisco Acuña to win Texas League Player of the Week for the week of April 21-27. In six games against the Amarillo Sod Poodles, Acuña went
San Antonio Takes Sunday Finale Over Pigweeds
AMARILLO, Texas (April 27, 2025) – A stellar defensive play from Tyler Robertson and homers from Anthony Vilar and Brandon Valenzuela aided clutch pitching to give the San Antonio Missions a 5-4 win over the Amarillo Sod Poodles, who today played as the Yellow City Pigweeds. San Antonio starter Jagger
Missions Drop Both Ends of Saturday Doubleheader in Amarillo
AMARILLO, Texas (April 26, 2025) – With the help of five homers across two games, the Amarillo Sod Poodles (8-12) swept both ends of a Saturday doubleheader against the San Antonio Missions (10-10). In game one, Amarillo took a 4-0 lead that disappeared after a Missions comeback, but a late
Acuña Blasts Homer in Fourth Straight Game, Missions Outlast Sod Poodles in Extra Innings
AMARILLO, Texas (April 24, 2025) – A season-high 13 runs on a season-high 17 hits proved to be enough for the San Antonio Missions to end up above the Amarillo Sod Poodles in a topsy-turvy 13-11 win in ten innings. In the tenth inning, Francisco Acuña lifted a three-run homer
Late Comeback Falls Short as Sod Poodles Escape with Victory
AMARILLO, Texas (April 23, 2025) – After a one hour and 29-minute rain delay, a rare low-scoring game took place at Hodgetown. San Antonio Missions starter Henry Bàez struck out seven while allowing just two runs, and Avery Short pitched into the seventh inning for the Amarillo Sod Poodles. The
Pointy Boots Clobber Five Homers to Beat Missions
AMARILLO, Texas (April 22, 2025) – After the Missions jumped on top with a Francisco Acuña grand slam, the Amarillo Sod Poodles, playing as the Pointy Boots, scored 15 unanswered runs on the way to a 15-4 win over the Missions. Amarillo blasted five home runs, including three in the
Naturals Earn Series Split with Sunday Win in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals pounced on the San Antonio Missions with 12 runs on 14 hits to earn a series split in the Alamo City. Peyton Wilson drove in three runs with four hits, including two triples, and Ryan Ramsey followed up his inclusion in Tuesday’s no