Why Are Two Of Orioles' Biggest Stars Missing From Lineup Again?
The Baltimore Orioles are getting ready for Opening Day which is just two weeks away.
The Orioles have an incredibly talented roster, perhaps better than the one that won the American League East last season. Hopes and expectations are high when it comes to building off of a 101-win performance and playoff berth.
Those same hopes will depend one everyone playing their role, that includes first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder Austin Hays.
Both turned heads in 2023 and played a pivotal role in propelling Baltimore to contender status. However, each player has now missed multiple MLB Spring Training games in a row.
According to MASN, Mountcastle has some neck stiffness and the team is giving him some rest. He has missed four consecutive spring training games.
As for Hays, he is felling "under the weather" so he is clearly dealing with some type of illness that is severe enough to keep him from game action.
Considering it is still spring training, the team could be taking extra precaution to protect two of their core players. If this was the regular season, perhaps both of them would still be getting some game action.
In 2023, Mountcastle slashed .270/.328/.452 with 18 home runs. Meanwhile, Hays produced a slashline of .275/.325/.444 with 16 home runs en route to his first MLB All-Star appearance.
Both have seen steady improvement over the years and now play a pivotal role within the Orioles clubhouse for the younger players. Getting them both back healthy and reading for Opening Day is paramount.
