To create room on the 40-man roster, the Orioles placed pitcher Yaramil Hiraldo on the 60-day injured list and added Weston Wilson to the 26-man roster, following Mountcastle’s IL designation. Encarnacion-Strand will report to AAA Norfolk, but given the Orioles’ infield absences, a quick MLB appearance isn’t out of the question.
Encarnacion-Strand, a former top-100 prospect who peaked as high as the Reds’ fifth-ranked prospect, has struggled to establish himself in the majors. In 128 games across three seasons, he’s hit .233 with 21 home runs, along with a high strikeout rate and low walk rate. The 26-year-old joins an Orioles organization that can offer him immediate opportunities given its current infield injuries.
Mountcastle is dealing with a fractured fourth metacarpal in his left foot and is not expected to return until around the All-Star break. His potential long-term role with Baltimore has been in question as the club balanced arbitration figures and lineup depth this season.
Overall, the trade represents a low-cost, potential low-risk move for Baltimore designed to address immediate lineup gaps while Encarnacion-Strand seeks to reignite his development with an organization that could accelerate a rise to the majors if he performs well. This development comes amid the Orioles’ ongoing injury challenges, including Mountcastle’s absence and other infield concerns.
