IL notes: Tides' Sisco gaining confidence

Chance Sisco had a simple goal for 2016: stay healthy.
He met that goal and it afforded him the playing and practice time the California native needed to have a breakout season -- not to mention establish himself as the top prospect in the Orioles' farm system.

"Last year was a good season, an exciting season, because I got to do some things I hadn't done in the past," Sisco said. "I got to participate in the Futures Game. And it was the first season I stayed healthy for a full season, which was my goal coming into the season. And I think that helped my development."
Sisco played in 111 games at Double-A Bowie, batting .319 with four homers and 44 RBIs. He earned a late-season promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, where he pounded a grand slam in his International League debut and batted .250 in four games.
"Injuries in the Minor Leagues hinder your development," Sisco said. "I know I'm not going to improve if I'm not on the field, so I tried to stay healthy so I could improve."
Sisco's bat has never been a concern. In fact, his advanced approach to hitting was a key reason he was the 61st overall pick in the 2013 Draft. But a healthy year allowed the 6-foot-2, 195-pound catcher to improve on defense in a number of ways, including his footwork and pitch-calling.
"I feel I've made improvements," Sisco said. "I have more confidence behind the plate, definitely."
There's still work to be done. For example, Sisco has thrown out only six of 41 basestealers this season (14.6 percent). But he said the learning process continues in his first full season at the Triple-A level.
"The pace of the game in Triple-A is different," he said. "There are a ton of guys with big league experience in Triple-A and you can learn things from guys who have been there and done that. I've tried to take what I can from them from talking to them and from just watching them on the field. You watch how guys handle certain situations and you try to learn from that as well."
Sisco is hitting .252 through 38 games with Norfolk, slugging two homers and driving in 19 runs, despite playing in Harbor Park, which historically favors pitchers. Tides hitting coach Sean Berry said he likes what he's seen of Sisco's swing.
"What I have noticed in Chance is that he has a very 'quiet' approach to hitting," Berry said. "He doesn't swing at too many bad pitches. He has a really good eye -- he stays under control in the moment. There are some signs of really great things to come with him."

And even though Sisco is just one step away from the Major Leagues, the 22-year-old said he does not concern himself with when he will take that final step to the next level.
"I try to not pay too much attention to [what is going on in Baltimore] because you need to focus on where you're at," Sisco said. "I have to focus on playing for Norfolk -- and playing good baseball for Norfolk."

In brief

Power surge: Before this season, Indianapolis' Max Moroff had not hit more than eight homers in a season. But the 5-foot-10, 185-pound infielder already has hammered 13 homers this season to rank among the IL leaders in that category. Moroff also is tied for second in the league with 35 RBIs and ranks third with a .565 slugging percentage.
Top of the charts: Pawtucket righty Hector Velazquez has been a consistent member of the rotation, posting a 3-1 record and a 1.75 ERA in six starts. He's given up 24 hits and six walks while striking out 27 over 36 innings, and the IL is batting .192 against him. Velazquez ranks second in the league in ERA, second among starters in opponents' batting average, second in fewest baserunners per nine innings (7.75) and fourth in fewest walks per nine innings (1.50).
He said it: "I was severely unprepared when we came from Arizona, but that's not an excuse. I was walking too many guys. I definitely feel more in shape and in a better spot. I'm just doing what got me here: throwing strikes and getting ahead of guys. I'm trying to keep them off-balance." --Columbus RHP Adam Plutko to The (Columbus) Dispatch. Plutko was 0-4 with a 7.56 ERA in five April starts but is 2-2 with a 4.70 ERA in May to give him season totals of 2-6 with a 6.19 ERA.
He said it, part II: "We had a guy called up yesterday, today was actually his day [to pitch]. I went to the pitching coach and asked to pitch because it was my birthday." --Gwinnett RHP Aaron Blair to the Gwinnett Daily Post on May 25. Blair celebrated his birthday in style, allowing two runs on five hits over in six innings in the G-Braves' 6-2 victory over Syracuse. For the season, he's 3-3 with a 5.40 ERA.