The Baltimore Orioles activated first baseman Ryan Mountcastle from the 10-day injured list Tuesday after he missed a month due to a sprained left wrist.
In a corresponding move, the Orioles optioned designated hitter Eloy Jimenez to Triple-A Norfolk.
Mountcastle, 27, is back in time for a critical three-game road series against the New York Yankees that begins Tuesday night. Baltimore’s playoff magic number is two, and it trails the Yankees by six games in the American League East with six to play.
Mountcastle last played Aug. 22 against Houston, when he injured his wrist sliding into second base. He is batting .265 with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs for the Orioles in 118 games this season, his fifth in the majors.
In 557 career games for Baltimore since entering the big leagues in 2020, he is a .264 hitter with 91 home runs and 326 RBIs.
The O’s acquired Jimenez, 27, from the Chicago White Sox in July ahead of the trade deadline. He’s appeared in 33 games for Baltimore and managed just one home run and seven RBIs with a .232 average in that time.
In 534 career games for Chicago (2019-24) and Baltimore, Jimenez has batted .269 with 95 home runs and 298 RBIs.
The Orioles also released veteran relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel, who was designated for assignment last week.
–Field Level Media