Two More Orioles Down: Mountcastle's Foot Injury and O'Neill's Concussion Pile On Early-Season Misery

The Baltimore Orioles are getting decimated by injuries before we're even a month into the season. First baseman Ryan Mountcastle is heading to the injured list with a broken fourth metatarsal bone in his left foot, and outfielder Tyler O'Neill is also sidelined with a concussion. For an Orioles team trying to get off to a hot start, this is exactly the kind of gut punch you don't need in April.

Mountcastle's Foot Fracture Comes at the Worst Time

Mountcastle got hurt during Saturday's game when he left the field with left foot pain after stumbling while running from first base to second on a double. Manager Craig Albernaz confirmed the diagnosis on Sunday after Baltimore's 6-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants, but refused to give any timeline on when the 29-year-old first baseman might return to the lineup. That's never a good sign.

The injury is particularly frustrating because Mountcastle was finally getting some regular at-bats. He's hitting .286 with an RBI in eight games this season, seeing more action as he splits time with Pete Alonso at first base. Last year was rough too. He was limited to 89 games because of a strained right hamstring that cost him more than two months, finishing 2025 at .250 with seven homers and 35 RBI. The guy just can't catch a break.

O'Neill Battling Illness and Dehydration

O'Neill's situation is different but equally concerning. He's on the injured list with a concussion after a rough week. According to Albernaz, O'Neill was ill for seven days and then fainted on Thursday while dealing with dehydration. "As he was getting worked on to play, he just felt dizzy," the manager explained on Sunday. The team is being careful with him, making sure he fully recovers before putting him back on the field.

One Bright Spot Amid the Damage

There was at least one piece of encouraging news from the Orioles' injury report. Catcher Adley Rutschman's MRI came back with what Albernaz called "encouraging news." Rutschman was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with left ankle inflammation, so the fact that the exam showed something positive should give Baltimore some hope that he won't be sidelined long.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.