BALTIMORE -- Orioles prospect Ryan Mountcastle was ranked as the No. 7 third base prospect, MLB Pipeline announced on Tuesday.
Mountcastle joins a promising group headed by Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr., with the American League East dominating the Top 10 list.
:: Top 10 Prospects by Position ::
All five divisional clubs had a third baseman on the list, though Mountcastle's achievement is impressive considering he just made the transition from shortstop. He spent 37 games at the position after moving up to Double-A on July 20, and the organization is pleased with the move.
"I think defensively he's actually better at third base than shortstop because his hands are good and he's athletic," Orioles director of player development Brian Graham told MiLB.com this fall. "He's able to get the ball across the diamond."
Mountcastle, a right-handed hitter, has always had a promising bat. And while he struggled a little bit offensively, the 20-year-old making it up to Double-A Bowie and holding his own was an achievement in itself.
The 2015 first-rounder turned in a .287/.312/.489 slash line with 18 homers, a Minor League-leading 48 doubles and 62 RBIs total in Bowie and Class A Advanced Frederick.
Mountcastle is currently ranked as the Orioles No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline and his bat has long intrigued the O's. As he works at his new position and gains confidence, Mountcastle could be on the club's radar as early as 2019, particularly considering the pending free agency of several key pieces, including All-Star infielder Manny Machado.
Mountcastle, who got more reps at his new position in the Arizona Fall League, is listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds. The high school draftee is the only infielder listed in the club's top 16 prospects as it's an area Baltimore is notably thin on.