Hearing from Álvarez, Sisco, Rodriguez on promotions (Jones ejected)

Pedro Álvarez walked to the back of the clubhouse this afternoon, his locker in the same spot as last season, and immediately felt right at home.

Manny Machado got a huge smile on his face upon seeing Álvarez and threw his arms around the veteran slugger. Jonathan Schoop rose from his chair and did the same. Kevin Gausman walked over and continued the hugfest.

In one move, the Orioles added a power bat and a popular teammate.

"It feels good to be here, obviously," Álvarez said after the Orioles selected his contract from Triple-A Norfolk as part of their roster expansion. "To get this opportunity to be up here again and be alongside these guys and play some pretty meaningful games, it's going to be a lot of fun."

It only took five full months in the minors.

"It's all been part of the process," said Álvarez, named to the International League's postseason All-Star team as a designated hitter. "Obviously, we all want to play up here, but everyone's path is different and you've just got to take it day by day. And that was my thought process on that. Just continue to get better, continue to strive to get back up here again."

The Orioles are plopping Álvarez in the middle of a playoff chase, now 2 1/2 games behind the Twins for the second wild card.

"Obviously, when you can come up here and play the type of caliber games that are about to unfold, it's what makes the year such an exciting time," Álvarez said.

The Orioles signed Álvarez as a free agent on March 10, 2016 and re-signed him on March 13, 2017 after he again fell into their laps in spring training. His contract contained a $2 million base salary, $3.5 million in incentives and an opt-out date that he later agreed to push back.

"These guys did such a good job of making you feel at home and even when I came as a new player last year, it felt like I was here for a while," Álvarez said. "It felt like I never left and just get right back in the mix."

Álvarez could have left if another team offered him a chance in the majors or if he wanted to change organization for perhaps a clearer path, but he stayed with Norfolk, where he batted .239 with 31 doubles, 26 home runs and 89 RBIs in 138 games. He wouldn't reveal how close he came to leaving.

"I would just go to the ballpark every day and be ready to play," he said.

The outfield experiment is over, with Álvarez mostly used at first base with the Tides. He broke into the majors as a third baseman before the Pirates, who selected him with the second overall pick in the 2008 draft, moved him across the diamond. The Orioles envision him mainly as a designated hitter and pinch-hitter.

"My objective every day was to be the best player I could be," he said. "To get back up here now, it's offensively, it's defensively. If I'm needed to play defense, whether it's first base, outfield, whatever it is, I'll be ready. I know I can take care of myself when I'm out there. If the time comes where I'm needed, I'll be ready."

The experience today felt much different for catcher Chance Sisco, 22 and making his first appearance on a major league roster.

"I had it in the back of my mind that it's a possibility," he said. "I wasn't 100 percent sure. I know that it was possible, but you also never know."

Sisco is regarded as the top prospect in the organization. He improved his work behind the plate and batted .267/.340/.395 with 23 doubles, seven home runs and 47 RBIs in 97 games with Norfolk.

"I thought I made some good strides this season," he said. "I was playing pretty well and I was confident in it. From then, that's all I can control and just see what happens after that."

Sisco gives the Orioles a third catcher and more maneuverability in the late innings, but he's mainly here to observe and soak in the atmosphere. Being around veterans Welington Castillo and Caleb Joseph should prove beneficial.

"I think it's going to be a huge learning experience just like the last couple of spring trainings," he said. "Just be here, be around the guys in the clubhouse and whenever I get time on the field, just learn and play the game."

Castillo and Joseph already have been sharing scouting reports with Sisco and showing him how they conduct business.

"I watch whenever I can and just watch how they go about the game, and they've done a really good job," Sisco said. "The team's going really well right now. Just trying to come in and fit in smoothly with the guys."

Asked if he could help the team win, Sisco replied, "I don't really know right know. We'll see what happens. I'll be ready when my name is called on."

Sisco said one of his most valuable lessons at Norfolk came from working with the pitching staff.

"We had kind of a rough first half," he said. "The second half was pretty tremendous from what we started with and learning those guys and working with them, we made some really good strides.

"Being around older guys, they help me out and we try to get through it as smoothly as possible and we go from there."

Sisco couldn't ignore the pressure that comes with being a top prospect. Expectations run high, even when you're 22 and playing at the highest level in the system. But he figured out how to manage it.

"At the end of the day you just have to remind yourself it's just a game," he said, "and just go out there and play the game as best as you can."

Reliever Richard Rodriguez, 27, said he found out about his promotion as he was on a bus destined for Charlotte. He was called into manager Ron Johnson's office and the Tides moved on without him.

"He told me about this great news," Rodriguez said through interpreter Ramon Alarcon. "It's unbelievable. I don't have any words to describe it.

"I feel grateful about it, very grateful to the Baltimore Orioles for this great opportunity and looking forward to taking advantage of this."

Rodriguez had to remain patient as teammates kept getting the call. He didn't find a seat on the shuttle until rosters expanded today.

"I didn't feel frustrated," he said. "Obviously, it's something I wanted ever since I was a little child. But I was just trying to control what I can control.

"Being called to the big leagues is not something I can control. It's not my decision. I respect that and I just try to focus on going out there and trying to do a good job."

Update: Plate umpire Pat Hoberg ejected Adam Jones in the bottom of the first inning after the center fielder struck out on three pitches. Jones was in the dugout when Hoberg tossed him.

Jones has two career ejections, the other coming on May 3 in Boston. Craig Gentry is playing center field.