O's Sisco ranked 7th among catching prospects
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BALTIMORE -- The Orioles' Chance Sisco was ranked as the seventh-best catching prospect on Thursday, joining a promising group ranked by MLB Pipeline.
Sisco, who will vie for a spot on the Opening Day roster this spring, is the Orioles' top prospect overall. He is the highest-ranking catching prospect in the American League East. The only other club in the division that had a backstop prospect ranked in the top 10 was Toronto, with Danny Jansen at No. 8.
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Sisco got off to a slow start with Triple-A Norfolk last season, but was able to get back on track. In 97 games, he posted a slash line of .267/.340/.395 with seven homers, 23 doubles, 32 walks and 47 RBIs.
Defensively, Sisco caught only 21 would-be basestealers out of 93 attempts. The former second-round pick, who has only been a catcher for about five years, has never had his offense in question. Defensively, though, he'll have to show more to earn a spot with Baltimore this spring.
Sisco did not throw out a runner in five attempts in the Majors. In 22 plate appearances, he hit an impressive .333/.455/.788 with the Orioles. He earned a trip to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game for a second straight year.
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The left-handed hitter will spend a considerable amount of time this spring working with catching coach John Russell but could open the year in Triple-A if the O's add a veteran. If not, he'll compete with prospect Austin Wynns to join Caleb Joseph and head north.
Still, he is seen as the organization's next long-term option behind the plate. Sisco, who will be 23 next month, is listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds.