Notes on roster move, homegrown outfield and Sisco

A late-night roster move following the doubleheader sweep, with the Orioles designating Mason Williams for assignment, illustrates how the club is placing more emphasis on pitching depth rather than the luxury of carrying an extra outfielder.

The Orioles didn't make any subtractions from their bullpen. Couldn't really afford to do it.

"Especially after a doubleheader and some games in a row here going forward, we definitely need the extra arm," manager Brandon Hyde said in today's Zoom conference call with the media.

Williams has been designated multiple times this summer. He can refuse an outright assignment if he clears waivers, but likely would accept a return to the secondary camp site in Bowie.

The outfield already lost Anthony Santander to a strained oblique muscle. Hyde confirmed that Santander won't return later this month.

The starting outfielder of Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins and DJ Stewart is homegrown, and former third-round pick Austin Hays should return next week. Trey Mancini, also drafted and developed, is expected back in the lineup next season.

"That's huge, absolutely huge," Hyde said. "As we graduate players to the big leagues, we've got guys behind there, too. (Yusniel) Diaz and (Ryan) McKenna. I think we're excited about our outfield core. Santander, we lost for the season, but he should be ready to go in spring training next year.

"We have a really, really talented group. This year Trey would have been either in one of those spots or first base a lot and obviously would have been in the lineup every day in the middle of the order, so I think we have a real talented group of homegrown outfielders that we're excited about.

"I don't think you can ever have enough talent. Those are always good problems to have, to be thinking ahead and seeing what it could look like. Might be crowded, but it always seems to work out."

The Orioles need a starter for Tuesday, but Hyde won't start Keegan Akin on short rest after the rookie threw only 39 pitches yesterday in Game 1.

"That will probably be a spot starter day," Hyde said. "I feel like we want to take care of Keegan and that's why I took him out with 39 pitches in the first inning. That was further than I wanted him to go, to be honest with you, in one inning. I don't want to interrupt his days in between starts. He's had a lot of interruptions this season already anyway and I think the best thing to do with him is to keep him on a regular rest schedule."

Catcher Chance Sisco is on the bench today against Yankees left-hander Jordan Montgomery and could stay there Sunday versus southpaw J.A. Happ. His average is only .230, but Hyde is pleased with the .380 on-base percentage.

Sisco's 14 walks put him one behind team leader Rio Ruiz.

"I think that Chance is only going to improve," Hyde said. "I think he's improved a lot from last year and I think that's going to continue. I like the swing mechanic changes that he started this past offseason. I think that's going to continue and he's going to get more comfortable and I think you're going to see more power, drive the baseball.

"I think what makes Chance different than a lot of others is his ability to really not chase out of the strike zone. We talked a little bit about that last year when he first got here was the ability to take a walk, the ability to get in hitters' counts, lay off borderline pitchers, not chase. And because of that tool that he has, and as his swing continues to improve, I think you're going to see a guy who's always going to have a high on-base and hit with a little higher average."