Baltimore Orioles: Three Players Who Need A Big Spring Training

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BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 11: Rio Ruiz #14 of the Baltimore Orioles watches his walk-off home run leave the park in the ninth inning against the Houston Astros at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 11, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

These three Baltimore Orioles need a big spring training in 2020 if they want to stick around.

While there aren’t very many high-profile spring training battles currently taking place down at the Baltimore Orioles spring training complex in Sarasota, a number of roster spots are up for grabs, including the backend of the starting rotation, a bullpen spot or two, the backup outfield roles, and who among the very long list of utility players makes the cut.

We know what to expect at the major league level this season and know that it may still be a while before we see some of the Orioles top prospects in the upper minors make their major league debut, but we still have plenty of storylines to focus on during spring training.

One of those storylines we’re looking at today is if a handful of players can have an impressive 2020 spring training in what could be one of their final opportunities to stick around in a Baltimore Orioles uniform.

We’re going to focus on three position players, all of whom have already had an opportunity to prove themselves in the major leagues, but haven’t been able to either stick or make the starting job theirs, up to this point.

Let’s start behind the plate with someone who was once considered one of the top prospects in baseball.

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) /

Can the Baltimore Orioles count on Chance Sisco?

In what has become a yearly tradition among Baltimore Orioles fans, we’re asking the same question yet again, will Chance Sisco finally find consistency at the plate and stick in the major leagues this season?

MASN’s Roch Kubatko recently discussed adjustments at the plate Sisco has made over the offseason, including using his legs more and going back to a more improved version of his 2016 and 2017 swing. At least it wasn’t an article about how his defense has continued to improve, because we know that just isn’t going to happen at this point.

Sisco came out of the gate hot last season after earning a promotion to the major leagues in June. The 24-year-old catcher hit .267 with four home runs, a 1.033 OPS, and a 165 wRC+ in 14 games. Unfortunately, those numbers took a steep nosedive as the season progressed. Sisco hit .168 with a wRC+ of 53 in the second half of the season, adding just four extra-base hits.

Sisco has a minor league option remaining, but he seems to have reached the sink or swim point here. His defense is what it is and after three-plus seasons of success in Triple-A, there isn’t much more he can prove in Norfolk.

If Sisco can show consistency at the plate for a full season, there’s a role on this team in the future, even when Adley Rutschman makes Camden Yards his home. It all starts with a solid spring training at the plate.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 28: Dwight Smith Jr. #35 and Cedric Mullins #3 of the Baltimore Orioles look on during batting practice before the game against the New York Yankees during Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on March 28, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Will Cedric Mullins put his 2019 season behind him?

Chance Sisco wasn’t the only Orioles hitter to visit a private instructor to try and help improve their swing and approach in 2020. Outfielder Cedric Mullins also dedicated himself to improving after a disaster of a 2019 campaign.

I haven’t jumped off the Cedric Mullins train yet, largely due to his impressive defensive abilities and skills on the basepaths, but he has to show an ability to hit more advanced pitching.

We have touched on Mullins a few times this offseason, noting his .094 average and -12 wRC+ in 22 games with the Orioles last season and his .205 average and 46 wRC+ in Triple-A before setting in with the Bowie Baysox, slashing .271/.341/.402 with a career-high 9.7% walk rate and a 13.7% strikeout rate.

With DJ Stewert on the shelf to begin the season, there is an opening on the 26-man roster for at least two reserve outfielders. If Mullins can show off his improved swing this spring, one of the spots could belong to him.

Mullins doesn’t need to post eye-popping numbers, just hover around league-average while he flashes the leather and uses his speed on the basepaths to cause some havoc late in games. The 25-year-old switch hitter still has time to turn things around and stick in the big leagues. Can it be with the Orioles in 2020?

BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 07: Rio Ruiz #14 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 7, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

Does Rio Ruiz have a future with the Baltimore Orioles?

As the 2019 season came to a close, Rio Ruiz became one of the more interesting players on the roster, in my opinion. Ruiz was a waiver claim who turned out a .232/.306/.376 season with 12 home runs and a 0.4 fWAR. Not exactly eye-opening numbers, however, he was one of the more improved hitters in the lineup from the first half to the second half of the season last year.

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First half Rio Ruiz posted a .635 OPS with a .092 ISO, and a 69 wRC+. He also struck out in nearly 23% of at-bats. Second half Ruiz improved those numbers to a .766 OPS, .235 ISO, and a 97 wRC+. He also saw a slight uptick in his walk rate to 10% and decreased his strikeout rate to 18.9%.

However, there are a few red flags. Ruiz hit .228 against right-handed pitchers vs a .250 average vs left-handed pitching. He also ranked 31st among 34 qualified third basemen in the major leagues with -5 Outs Above Average, per Baseball Savant.

The third base job is his, with little competition in camp at the third base position and only Rylan Bannon threatening from the prospect ranks. If Ruiz can step up against righties (he is a left-handed hitter) and be a consistent presence in the hot corner, he can avoid platooning at the position with Hanser Alberto or some of the many utility options currently in camp.

Next. 2020 Orioles Draft Targets Start Out Hot. dark

Keep an eye on all three of these guys this spring. Consistent performances will go a long way for each of them.

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These three Baltimore Orioles need a big spring training in 2020 if they want to stick around.

Can the Baltimore Orioles count on Chance Sisco?

Will Cedric Mullins put his 2019 season behind him?

Does Rio Ruiz have a future with the Baltimore Orioles?

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