WEST SACRAMENTO -- A key piece of the Orioles’ lineup is set to miss most of the summer.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino announced Friday that first baseman Ryan Mountcastle ’s right hamstring strain has been diagnosed as Grade 2 after the 28-year-old recently underwent an MRI. Mountcastle is expected to miss 8-12 weeks from the time of the injury, which was sustained when he exited a May 30 game vs. the White Sox .

“We love Mounty, he’s a huge piece of this for us,” Mansolino said. “He’ll be back at some point, whenever we get him. It’s incredibly disappointing. I feel for him, the group feels for him, but we’ve got to move forward. We’ve got some good players here that will step up and pick up the slack.”

A six-year MLB veteran, Mountcastle was hitting .246 with 13 doubles, two hom

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