Halfway through his first major league season, Orioles rookie Ryan Mountcastle has been through the gamut. In April, no player with at least 90 plate appearances was less productive. When his turnaround was in full-swing in June, he was one of the best hitters in the league and earned American League Rookie of the Month honors.
That’s why Mountcastle regards the first three-plus months of his season as “OK” — the lows aren’t easy to overlook, but the highs aren’t easy to sustain. And as the Orioles’ youngest everyday player, the hard lessons are giving the rookie some perspective on how things have been — and what’s still to come.