Davis activated off IL, joining Sisco

June 4th, 2019

BALTIMORE -- All signs pointed to Chris Davis returning to the Orioles' active roster in short order. That happened on Tuesday, when he came off the injured list ahead of the Orioles' series opener in Texas, joining catcher Chance Sisco, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk.

Davis had been on the IL since May 25 with left hip inflammation. Utility man Stevie Wilkerson was optioned to Norfolks following the Orioles' 8-1 defeat to the Giants on Sunday.

Davis took on-field batting practice without restrictions this weekend, and expressed his desire to return when eligible since early last week. He was in a 5-for-41 (.122) skid at the time of his injury, and is hitting .171 with a .575 OPS in 43 games this season.

That production, and the nearly $93 million he’s still owed through 2022, make it unclear what type of role awaits Davis when he returns. The Orioles want to give No. 15 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, DJ Stewart an extended look in right field, and feature their two most productive offensive players at first base and designated hitter. The Orioles promoted Stewart and shifted Trey Mancini, who leads the team in almost every major offensive category, to first base when Davis hit the injured list last weekend. Everyday DH Renato Núñez is currently one of the hottest hitters in the American League, and leads the team with 15 home runs.

Throw in veteran slugger Mark Trumbo, whose rehab from right knee surgery has progressed enough for his assignment to be transferred to Triple-A Norfolk, and the Orioles could soon have upwards of four bat-first/corner-types to somehow cycle playing time between. Like with Davis, money also factors into the equation with Trumbo, although to a lesser extent. The 33-year-old is owed approximately $13.5 million this season, the final year of a three-year, $37.5 million contract.

Trumbo went 3-for-13 with a double and three strikeouts in three games at Double-A Bowie this week, and is scheduled to be re-evaluated around the middle of the month.

“I think we’re waiting to see how Mark is and I think we’re going to make those decisions when that gets a little bit closer,” Hyde said. “We have a lot of first base/DH types and it’s not an ideal situation, so we’re going to figure that out when the decision for Mark gets closer.”

At least in the short term, the odd man out was Wilkerson, who impressed the club during a trial run in center field for much of May. But he was relegated to a reserve role when the Orioles traded for Keon Broxton and summoned Stewart from Norfolk.

Wilkerson hit .295 with a .695 OPS in 35 games while seeing time at all three outfield spots and second base, where he committed a key error Sunday. Stewart singled three times in his season debut but has gone 0-for-16 with six strikeouts since.

Hyde indicated the Orioles would be hesitant to play with a seven-man bullpen given their struggles on the pitching side, particularly during an early-summer stretch visiting the Rangers and Astros. Globe Life Park in Arlington is notoriously hitter-friendly, and Houston sports one baseball’s best offenses once again this season.

"We’re also facing Houston in Houston, and it’s not an easy lineup to navigate through,” Hyde said. “{We] would like to have some arms there obviously for that series.”