Your Guide to the 2018 Baltimore Orioles Farm System

Chance Sisco, C (22 years old)

Chance Sisco saw limited major league playing time at the end of the 2017 season, whacking two doubles and two home runs through 22 plate appearances.

With the departure of Welington Castillo, Sisco is in a prime position to contribute to the Baltimore Orioles’ success in 2018. Sisco will have the opportunity to learn under the guidance of veteran catcher Caleb Joseph while building more major league confidence in the process.

Sisco proved his worth as a minor leaguer with outstanding hitting performances at nearly every level. Sisco’s 2016 season with Double-A Bowie is perhaps the shining star of his minor league resumé, as he sported a .406 on-base percentage with the Baysox. Sisco was then promoted to Triple-A Norfolk, where he accounted for 23 doubles and a .340 on-base percentage in 2017.

The concern with Sisco has always revolved around his defense. He simply didn’t throw out enough base stealers during the early part of his minor league career to be considered a major league talent.

Sisco’s defensive statistics improved during the second half of the 2017 Triple-A season, though, as he threw out 41 percent of baserunners who tried to steal on his watch. With Sisco’s defensive skills on the rise, his major league readiness has followed suit.

The Baltimore Orioles have been in search of a stable answer at catcher since Matt Wieters‘ departure, and Sisco may very well be that answer. Well-rounded catchers who can both hit well and defend are tough to come by, but if Sisco develops as many expect him to, the Orioles may find their second franchise catcher of the twenty-first century.