Minor league notes on Rodriguez, Johnson, Sisco and more

Double-A Bowie left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez is progressing well from a sprained knee. He has been in Sarasota, Fla. the last four days and could potentially return to the Baysox within two weeks. "He's doing well," Orioles director of player development Brian Graham said this morning. "He's throwing and his knee is doing very well. It's just a matter of taking the time to make sure it's 100 percent. "He's going to have a throwing progression prior to coming back to Bowie. He'll face live hitters at some point. He's doing well. It's not nearly as bad as we first anticipated." The Orioles' No. 3 prospect according to Baseball America, Rodriguez came up with the injury during between his starts while weightlifting April 17 and he's on Bowie's disabled list. Rodriguez is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts this year. Over 16 innings, he's allowed 19 hits with five walks and 12 strikeouts. The 21-year-old Rodriguez is a consensus Top 100 prospect. He was ranked No. 43 by ESPN, No. 61 by Baseball Prospectus, No. 65 by Baseball America and No. 68 by MLB.com. Meanwhile, Single-A Delmarva catcher Chance Sisco is scheduled to start hitting some today. He is on the Shorebirds' disabled list with an oblique strain. Sisco could return soon. The Orioles second round pick last June, the 19-year-old Sisco last played April 24 for Delmarva. Over 13 games he's batting .245 with three doubles, no homers and five RBIs. Triple-A Norfolk right-handed pitcher Steve Johnson, who has been on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, could return to the Tides active roster soon. "Steve Johnson threw a four-inning simulated game in Norfolk yesterday and reported he was feeling great. Felt great before and after," Graham said. Johnson has made two Norfolk starts and is 0-0 with a 5.87 ERA with seven hits allowed over 7 2/3 innings. Single-A Frederick second baseman Jerome Pena is out with a wrist injury and is listed as day-to-day. In 11 games, Pena is batting .279 with four doubles, no homers and three RBIs. By now you've probably learned that Frederick's scheduled doubleheader was rained out today. First pitch of Game 1 had been scheduled for 11 a.m. Manny Machado was not in the Keys starting lineup before the rainout was announced.