Wynns optioned, leaving Sisco, Susac in backup catcher race

SARASOTA, FLA. — Despite Orioles manager Buck Showalter‘ s pregame proclamation that defense would be a primary consideration for deciding which of Chance Sisco, Austin Wynns and Andrew Susac would be their backup catcher, Wynns was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after Sunday’s game, removing the strong defensive backstop from consideration.

“I think what happens is the way Austin is, he’s just pushing all the time,” Showalter said. “It’s one of those things now where he needs to take a deep breath and then get ready to start the season in Norfolk.

“I think he felt coming in here that’s probably where he’s going to go, but then you start seeing the way spring training goes, you never know. There’s some things that he’s done that aren’t characteristic of howgood he can be, and I think he just needs to get down there and take a breath.”

Wynns, 27, was batting .222 with a pair of home runs in the Grapefruit League. Davis feels good: First baseman Chris Davis camethrough his return from an elbow injury that’s kept him out most of this month, and will likely go to minor league camp at Twin Lakes Park to get more at-bats today.

Davis went1-for-3 with an RBI single in his return. Around the horn: The Orioles optioned reliever Donnie Hart to Triple-A Norfolk, trimming the club’s big league spring training roster to 41 players. Hart, 28, was competing for a left-handed bullpen spot but allowed opposing hitters to bat .323 against him in eight Grapefruit League innings. ... Rule 5 left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. will start Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. ... Center fielder Cedric Mullins had two singles and two stolen bases Sunday. Infielder Danny Valencia homered in a three-run eighth inning.