Baltimore Orioles: Three Players Who Must Show Up In 2020

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TORONTO, ON – JUNE 9: Chance Sisco #15 of the Baltimore Orioles throws out Kevin Pillar #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays who is thrown out attempting to steal second base in the second inning during MLB game action at Rogers Centre on June 9, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

We learned a lot about certain players in 2019, but these three Baltimore Orioles will need to step up in a big way next year.

With the 2019 season now over for the Baltimore Orioles, it’s time to start looking ahead to the offseason. General manager Mike Elias has already come out and stated that the organization isn’t likely to spend a big chunk of money and, once again, the win/loss record is not the top priority in 2020. Development is the top goal.

Looking over the current roster, there are a handful of names we can immediately mark as those who will be removed to make room for Rule 5 eligible prospects. There are also a few locks to make the 2020 Opening Day roster. The focus for today is three players who will be around in 2020 but have to show up next season after years of promise and sub-par production at the major league level.

The first player on notice in 2020 is catcher Chance Sisco. A former top prospect in the Orioles system, Sisco will be 25 next season and can still develop into something more, but we have to see sustained success soon or his future with the organization will be short-lived.

Obviously, Adley Rutschman is the man of the future, but having a second man behind the dish who a team can rely on is important, especially if you want to make a postseason run. The organization isn’t deep at the catcher position, so Sisco has the opportunity to earn a backup job, if he starts producing at the plate.

Sisco’s defensive struggles are well-documented and his Baseball Savant numbers don’t show much of an improvement. Of the 57 catchers who made at least 10 pick-off attempts at second base, Sisco ranks 53rd in pop-time (2.09) and ranks 47th in arm strength (79.1 mph). His issues behind the plate wouldn’t be as much of a talking point if his offense ever picks up, especially if he’s going to be Rustchman’s backup.

A hot stretch after his callup in 2019 had many fans excited about Sisco finally figuring things out, but the excitement quickly faded. Sisco finished with a .210 average, eight home runs, a 31% strikeout rate, a wRC+ of 96, and was worth -0.2 fWAR in 59 games. He hit just .168 with a .299 OBP and posted a wRC+ of 53 after the All-Star break.

Sisco did increase his contact rate, swung at fewer first pitches, significantly cut his whiff rate, and increased his line-drive rate from 18% in 2018 to 27%, while cutting his groundball rate by nearly 10%. He’s always been a guy who can get on base, now he needs to show he can hit the ball to earn a place on the roster.

Up next, a reliever who finished 2019 on a positive note.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JULY 24: Miguel Castro #50 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts while walking through the dugout after being removed from the game during the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 24, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

How long of a leash will the Baltimore Orioles have on Miguel Castro?

All the talent to be a successful bullpen piece, but a lack of results to back it up. That’s been the story for Baltimore Orioles reliever Miguel Castro since the Orioles acquired him from Colorado back in 2017.

His strikeout rate has risen from 14% in his first year with the Orioles to 22.3% in 2019, however, his walk rate and ERA have also ballooned. Overall, Castro finished with a 1-3 record, a 4.66 ERA (4.73 FIP), and a 1.42 WHIP this year. Like Sisco, a hot stretch during 2019 provided fans with a glimpse of how dominant Castro can be, but consistency is the key.

With 2019 being about development and players showing improvement, Castro was one of the few bullpen pieces to do just that this year. Below is a comparison of his pre-All-Star break numbers with his post-All-Star break numbers.

Pre-Break: 5.28 ERA, .262 average against, .429 slugging against, 8.32 K/9 IP, 1.51 WHIP

Post-Break: 3.72 ERA, .183 average against, .317 slugging against, 9.21 K/9 IP, 1.28 WHIP.

Castro appeared in nine games in September, holding opponents scoreless in eight of them. He allowed one hit in two of them and struck out 12, compared to just five walks. Unfortunately, Castro gave up five earned runs on three hits and two walks in one of his final outings against Toronto. Take out that one dismal outing and Castro was…good.

He did what he has done numerous times before, sucked me back into being a believer. Opponents hit .154 against his slider and .093 against his changeup, while both pitches produced a whiff rate of nearly 40%. If he can figure out his fastball (.346 average, .583 slugging, and a .429 wOBA against) and hone in one his command, Castro can be a valuable piece to this Orioles bullpen. However, we have been saying this for a while now. Is there still a chance Castro turns things around or should we move on from this storyline?

Finally, 2020 will be a crucial year for this outfielder.

DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 13: DJ Stewart #24 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with teammate Stevie Wilkerson #12 after hitting a two run home run in the fifth inning of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on September 13, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Will DJ Stewart find a spot in the lineup in 2020 for the Baltimore Orioles?

The emergence of Austin Hays in September was not only a huge boost for morale among fans who stuck around with this team, but it has also made the outfield competition very interesting, in a good way.

We know that Chris Davis is coming back, at least for spring training, and Renato Nunez appears poised to take on the full-time DH role, according to MASN’s Roch Kubatko. That means another season of Trey Mancini in the outfield. Hays is the early leader for the starting centerfield job, leaving just one spot open.

The competition for left field will include the likes of Anthony Santander (my way too early pick for Opening Day starter), Dwight Smith Jr. possibly Cedric Mullins, and former first-round pick DJ Stewart. 2019 was a disappointing year for Stewart, some of it due to uncontrollable circumstances, but there’s no denying that he needs a big 2020.

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After dominating his way through Triple-A, Stewart played in 44 games in 2019, hitting .238 with four home runs, six doubles, and a .698 OPS. A former 20-20 guy in the minors (20 HR, 20 SB), Stewart swiped just one bag. He posted a wRC+ of 86 and was worth -0.3 fWAR.

Take the advanced defensive metrics for what you will, especially with the smaller sample size, but Stewart recorded -4 Defensive Runs Saved and a -1.8 Ultimate Zone Rating in the outfield. You really don’t need to look at his defensive ratings to know how poor his defense was this season.

When we look back at Stewart’s 2019, we’re likely to remember him running into Hanser Alberto and suffering an ankle injury, his outfield miscues, and his slipping and taking a flyball off his head. Not exactly a way to make a positive impression heading into 2020.

Will competition pull out the best in Stewart when spring training rolls around? If he can perform consistently at the plate, he can be a valuable fourth outfielder behind Mancini, Hays, and Santander in 2020 with home run power and some speed, hopefully.

Next. Baltimore Orioles Rule 5 Draft Options. dark

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We learned a lot about certain players in 2019, but these three Baltimore Orioles will need to step up in a big way next year.

How long of a leash will the Baltimore Orioles have on Miguel Castro?

Will DJ Stewart find a spot in the lineup in 2020 for the Baltimore Orioles?

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