Ryan Mountcastle hit well when he wasn’t hurt in 2023

Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty ImagesRyan Mountcastle entered 2023 in hopes of putting his bad luck behind him. The previous season saw him hit the ball with more authority than ever before. And yet, his power numbers dipped, due—at least in some part—to the altered dimensions at Camden Yards. This past summer, he managed to improve in the slugging department and played some of the best baseball of his career, but this time it was his health that failed him.

The entire season was a battle for Mountcastle. He headed to spring training as the team’s incumbent at first base, but the organization made it quite clear that they had a platoon in mind for the position. The Orioles’ spring invitee list…