Orioles activate Mountcastle from injured list, option Jiménez, release Kimbrel

NEW YORK—The Orioles activated first baseman Ryan Mountcastle from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday before a three-game series with the New York Yankees.

Mountcastle, who hasn’t played since August 22^nd, had a sprained left wrist.

To make room for Mountcastle on the 28-man roster, the Orioles optioned designated hitter Eloy Jiménez to Triple-A Norfolk. Jiménez could have rejected the assignment, but he accepted. The Orioles also released reliever Craig Kimbrel, who was designated for assignment on September 18^th.

Jiménez batted .232 with a home run and seven RBIs since he was acquired from the Chicago White Sox on July 31^st for minor league pitcher Trey McGough.

In September, Jiménez was just 1-for-24.

Mountcastle is batting .265 with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs and a .730 OPS with the Orioles. In three games with Norfolk, Mountcastle was 1-for-11 (.091).