The Orioles selected the contract of catcher Austin Wynns this morning from Triple-A Norfolk, the anticipated move after he arrived in Baltimore last night, and optioned Chance Sisco to the Tides.
Infielder Richie Martin was transferred to the 60-day injured list with a fractured left wrist to create room for Wynns on the 40-man roster.
A shakeup at the catching position seemed to be coming with Sisco and Pedro Severino combining for below-average production at the plate and behind it. Sisco is the only one with a minor league option and he's slashing .154/.247/.185 after going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts Thursday night in Chicago.
Sisco has thrown out six of nine runners attempting to steal.
Severino is out of options, which made him most likely to stay in the majors, and agreed to a $1.825 million contract over the winter to avoid arbitration. He's batting .236/.312/.299 after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts yesterday against the White Sox and has been charged with four passed balls. He's 2-for-15 attempting to throw out runners and pitchers have thrown 22 wild pitches, including one by John Means as the only blemish in the no-hitter in Seattle.
Wynns is returning to the majors for the first time since 2019, though he's been a frequent member of the taxi squad, which requires at least one catcher.
A 10th-round pick in 2013, Wynns is a career .239/.271/.339 hitter in 70 games with the Orioles and has thrown out 10 of 36 runners attempting to steal. He set himself up for a promotion today by batting .333/.448/.563 with two doubles, three home runs, nine RBIs and seven walks in 15 games with the Tides and throwing out six of 11 runners attempting to steal.
Wynns has hit safely in 10 of his last 13 games and is 16-for-45 (.356) during that stretch, with two doubles, three home runs, nine RBIs, six walks, seven runs scored and six multi-hit games.
The Orioles haven't posted their lineup. A start for Wynns, 30, would be his first since Sept. 29, 2019 in Boston.
Martin sustained his injury while crashing into the center field fence during a May 18 game at Norfolk. He was chasing a Jesus Sánchez fly ball that resulted in an inside-the-back home run.
The former Rule 5 pick missed the 2020 season with a fractured wrist and underwent surgery in January to remove a broken hamate bone.
For the Twins
Jorge Polanco 2B
Josh Donaldson 3B
Alex Kirilloff RF
Nelson Cruz DH
Mitch Garver C
Miguel Sanó 1B
Rob Refsnyder CF
Kyle Garlick LF
Andrelton Simmons SS
José BerrÃos RHP
Update: Wynns is behind the plate today. Trey Mancini and Ryan Mountcastle are in the lineup, but Freddy Galvis is on the bench.
Cedric Mullins CF
Trey Mancini DH
Anthony Santander RF
Maikel Franco 3B
DJ Stewart LF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Stevie Wilkerson 2B
Austin Wynns C
Pat Valaika SS
Jorge López RHP
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