Stewart, Sisco had unique offensive seasons

Pair were the team’s most effective at drawing walks

ORIOLES

Whenever Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was asked to explain his club’s offensive inconsistencies this year, he’d often note that his players didn’t walk much — which was true.

The Orioles’ lack of on-base ability, save for a few players, made for a boom-or-bust offense that had the third-lowest walk rate in the majors in 2020. Down the stretch, the Orioles struggled to get rallies going when they did get on base.

Two players, however, walked plenty. Outfielder DJ Stewart and catcher Chance Sisco were far and away the Orioles’ most effective players at working a walk this season. But Stewart and Sisco also struck out plenty, making their seasons unique in several aspects.

The pair of post-prospects trying to solidify themselves as major leaguers were two of 20 players with at least 100 plate appearances this year with both a walk rate over 10% and a strikeout rate over 30%.

Add those together, and it was Stewart’s 17.9% walk rate and 33.9% strikeout rate that made him the only player in that sample who either walked or struck out in over half of his plate appearances. With a 14% walk rate and 33.9% strikeout rate, Sisco wasn’t far behind, striking out or walking in 47.9% of his plate appearances.

What this means for their future isn’t easy to glean from who else is on the list.

The list features both regulars and parttime players, owing to the shortened season, so the company they keep on there is diverse. There are stars such as Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers and Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, veterans such as the Colorado Rockies’ Matt Kemp and the