Orioles’ Mountcastle could miss rest of 2026 after torn oblique; Bautista nears return

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle could be done for the 2026 season after tearing an oblique while working back from a left foot fracture, team president Mike Elias said Friday. The 29-year-old has played just eight games this season for Baltimore, which entered the day at 53-56 and 2 1/2 games out of the final American League wild-card spot.

Mountcastle’s injury and timeline

Elias said Mountcastle was preparing for a rehab game Tuesday when he sustained the injury. The oblique tear creates another delay in a season already interrupted by the foot fracture. According to Elias, the recovery will take “a couple of months,” and while the club hopes he can return in 2026, that outcome is not guaranteed.

“We hope to get him back as soon as we’re able to,” Elias said. “And hopefully that’s in 2026. But it’s a tough restart for Ryan.”

Mountcastle’s career production and absence

These latest issues have kept Mountcastle out of the lineup for most of the year. Before this season, he had been a steady presence for Baltimore, posting a career slash line of .263/.312/.438 with 98 home runs and 660 games, all with the Orioles. His 2026 impact has been minimal because of injuries, which leaves the club without one of its more experienced right-handed bats.

Managerial and roster adjustments were already part of the Orioles’ season because Mountcastle has been limited to eight appearances. The oblique injury means Baltimore will continue to plan for first base without him for more than a month at minimum, and possibly for the rest of the season.

Wild-card stakes

The Orioles are still in the race, but their margin is thin. Their 53-56 record and 2 1/2-game gap in the wild-card chase leave little room for roster losses. Mountcastle’s absence is not new, but the extended timeline makes it harder for the team to add another reliable piece to the lineup during the stretch run.

While the Orioles have already had to function without their regular first baseman for most of 2026, the latest setback removes any expectation of a short shutdown. The team’s playoff hopes will depend on the players currently healthy enough to carry the offense.

Félix Bautista’s return path

There was a more encouraging injury update from Elias on Friday regarding closer Félix Bautista. The 31-year-old, who has been sidelined since his August 2025 operation to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff, is throwing live batting practice at the team’s complex in Sarasota, Florida, this week. Elias said Bautista has looked “really good” while facing hitters.

“Fingers crossed and kudos to him,” Elias said. “He’s not back yet, but it’s going really, really well.”

Bautista was an All-Star in 2023, then missed all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He was shut down in July 2025 and had the follow-up shoulder surgery the following month. In 156 career relief appearances for Baltimore, he has 67 saves and a 2.01 ERA.

He still needs to complete his throwing progression before the Orioles can activate him, but live batting practice is a meaningful step toward a return in the final months of the season.

What this means for the Orioles

Mountcastle’s status is the more urgent roster concern for a team trying to stay in the wild-card race. Baltimore has already spent most of 2026 planning around his absence, but the oblique tear extends that uncertainty deep into September and possibly beyond. Bautista’s potential return would strengthen a bullpen that has had to operate without one of its most decorated relievers for an extended stretch.

For readers tracking the roster, the next things to watch are Elias’s future updates on Mountcastle’s rehab progress and any news about Bautista’s next step after live batting practice.

Key facts

Source: Sportsnet MLB — https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/orioles-mountcastle-could-be-out-for-season-with-torn-oblique-team-president/