Baltimore Orioles: Three Players Who Need A Big Spring Training

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.