Sisco talks about his return to the Orioles (plus draft update)

ARLINGTON, Tx. - Catcher Chance Sisco is listed among the reserves tonight on a three-man bench that's more comfortable to him than a seat on the Triple-A shuttle.

Sisco is back in the majors after the Orioles recalled him yesterday from Norfolk. He was batting .289/.383/.530 with 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 37 RBIs in 44 games. The 10 home runs already are a career high.

"I'm definitely excited to be here," he said this afternoon. "Things that were going well, just sticking to my approaching and trying to be consistent day in and day out with preparation and approach in the box and catching-wise. Just pretty much staying to that."

The Orioles made public their interest in recalling Sisco, 24, who's registered a .353 average and .451 on-base percentage since April 28 with seven doubles, 10 home runs and 14 walks. Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias told the media that the club was trying to find roster spots for Sisco and outfielder DJ Stewart.

Sisco wasn't on edge about it because he had no idea that Elias made the comments.

"I didn't see that quote," he said. "Just focusing on day in, day out preparation and what not."

The Orioles chose to continue Sisco's development in Norfolk despite his strong spring, which included going 13-for-34 (.382) with a double, four home runs and 11 RBIs in Grapefruit League games. They broke camp with Jesús Sucre and Pedro Severino and later recalled Austin Wynns.

"Definitely disappointed," Sisco said. "Obviously that's not what you want is to get sent down, but tried to focus on the good things and the positive of what I got out of spring and take those with me to Triple-A to start the season and then continue what I had built on in spring. Continue that in the season."

What felt different for Sisco over the past two months?

"Just knowing what I needed to do day in and day out," he said. "Preparation, like I keep saying. Just knowing what I needed to do to get back here. Playing hard and playing baseball and having fun with it.

"Just saying consistent with everything I did and not bouncing back and forth. If things go wrong the day before, not changing that and just building on it and staying consistent with it."

Sisco returned to the minors with instructions to carry what he did in Florida to the International League.

"That's what I really tried to and what I tried to focus on mainly was the work that we did in spring," he said.

Sisco was optioned twice last summer after heading north with the Orioles, his confidence shaken while he slumped at the plate and began to struggle behind it. He threw out nine of the first 18 runners who attempted to steal but finished the season 13-for-42.

The goal now is to stay off that shuttle.

"Absolutely," he said. "Definitely the goal is just to stay here, but enjoy the time and have fun with it."

Defensive improvement could allow him to stay. The bat is his best tool but not the only way that he leaves Triple-A behind.

"Special attention to that and working with the pitching staff," he said, "talking to them and just making sure we're always on the same page."

Mark Trumbo has joined Norfolk tonight as planned while continuing his injury rehab assignment. He's batting second and playing first base.

Trumbo will travel from Durham to Columbus.

The Orioles selected College of Charleston pitcher Griffin McLarty in the eighth round (228th overall) and VCU pitcher Connor Gillispie in the ninth round (258th overall).

Gillispie went 5-3 with a 2.50 ERA this summer. He walked 24 batters and struck out 118 in 86 1/3 innings.