Orioles DFA Chance Sisco (updated)

The Orioles have designated catcher Chance Sisco for assignment today, according to an industry source, and appear ready to add a pitcher to the 40-man roster prior to tonight's game against the Blue Jays at Camden Yards.

Sisco's removal from the 40-man opens a spot.

Sisco broke camp with the team again and was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on May 31 while the Orioles selected catcher Austin Wynn's contract from the Tides. Sisco, a second-round pick in the 2013 draft, was batting .154/.247/.185 in 73 plate appearances.

Given another reset with Norfolk, Sisco was 9-for-44 (.205) with three doubles, a home run, seven walks and 17 strikeouts in 52 plate appearances.

Trading Taylor Davis to the Pirates earlier this week left the Orioles with three catchers at Triple-A, and now they're down to Brett Cumberland and Nick Ciuffo. Ciuffo recently came off the injured list after fracturing his right hand in April.

The plan eventually calls for top prospect Adley Rutschman to jump another level. The first overall pick in the 2019 draft is batting .287/.421/.544 with five doubles, 10 home runs, 27 RBIs, 30 walks and 30 strikeouts in 37 games with Double-A Bowie.

Sisco's minor league production, including a career .303/.385/.428 line in eight seasons, never could be repeated in the majors. He's batted .199/.319/.339 in 598 plate appearances, but his throwing improved this season, with Sisco nabbing six of nine runners attempting to steal.

Sisco, 26, is out of minor league options in 2022 and set to become arbitration eligible. Should he clear waivers and stay in the organization, he'd be allowed to enter minor league free agency after the season.

However the situation plays out, it appears that Sisco's time with the Orioles was running out anyway.

Meanwhile, the Orioles placed Bowie infielder Terrin Vavra, 24, on the seven-day injured list with a strained muscle in his lower back.

Vavra, acquired from the Rockies in the Mychal Givens trade, was batting .263/.413/.447 with seven doubles, a triple, four home runs and 17 RBIs in 143 plate appearances. He's the No. 10 prospect in the system per MLBPipeline.com.

Update: The Orioles announced that they selected Thomas Eshelman's contract from Norfolk and he's starting tonight against the Blue Jays. Bruce Zimmermann goes on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 15, with left biceps tendinitis.

The club also announced that Sisco was designated for assignment.