Image credit: Minda Haas Kuhlmann, Omaha Storm Chasers
With the World Series now wrapped up, the transactions have started flying for Major League Baseball. Over the handful of days since the end of the Fall Classic, we’ve seen a few trades as well as many player, club, or mutual options get accepted or declined. The Royals have made a few decisions of their own, declining their half of a mutual option on infielder Adam Frazier. The club also learned that both Chris Stratton and Hunter Renfroe have exercised their player options for 2025. Michael Wacha’s player option still looms large on the upcoming offseason, but the Royals made another move on Friday ahead of Minor League Free Agency.
Royals select the contract of LHP Evan Sisk
The Royals added lefty reliever Evan Sisk to their 40-man roster on Friday. Sisk was an International League All Star this season, pitching all year with the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. Across 58 appearances, Sisk posted a 1.57 ERA with 81 strikeouts in just 57.1 IP. He walked 26 batters and didn’t give up a single home run all season.
Acquired from the Minnesota Twins in a trade for Michael A. Taylor, Sisk has spent the last two seasons in the Royals farm system. He was originally a 16th-round selection by the Cardinals in the 2018 Amateur Draft. He was traded to Minnesota in a trade that sent J.A. Happ to St. Louis back in July 2021. Sisk now joins the 40-man roster following the departure of Josh Taylor. Taylor was outrighted by the Royals earlier this week and elected free agency.
Looking ahead to 2025, Sisk now figures to factor into Kansas City’s bullpen that really rounded into shape over the back-half of 2024. He won’t blow anyone away with his velocity. Sisk throws in the low 90s. He does miss plenty of bats, however. Sisk finished 2024 with a 31.8% Whiff%. His best pitch is his slider and he pairs that with a solid sinker. He generated just 2,250 rpm with the slider in 2024, but garnered a 38.1% chase rate with the offering alongside a 41.9% whiff rate. Sisk also throws a four-seamer and a cutter. All three iterations of his fastball are low-spin, low-velocity offerings. Despite his low velocity, good extension helps Sisk find effectiveness with his arsenal.
Rounding out the mix are a curveball and changeup. Both pitches were used much less than the others in 2024. Sisk threw the changeup just twice all season. With now six minor league seasons under his belt, Sisk was set to become a minor league free agent. Instead, the Royals keep him in the organization by adding him to the 40-man roster for this upcoming season. Sisk was the Omaha Pitcher of the Year in 2024.
