Orioles to promote Travis Ishikawa

The Baltimore Orioles will promote first baseman Travis Ishikawa from Triple-A Norfolk, a source has confirmed to MLBDailyDish.com. The 29-year old will meet the team in Detroit on Tuesday.

Ishikawa, who is batting .316 with 7 HR and 31 RBI in 49 games on the year with Norfolk, filed paperwork on Sunday to exercise his out-clause and become a free agent, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. The team then had 48 hours to decide whether to add him to the 25-man roster, trade him, or release him, according to Connolly. After two days of deliberation, Baltimore decided that adding Ishikawa to the 25-man roster would be in the best interest of the team. Because he is not on the 40-man roster either, the Orioles will have to clear space on both rosters.

A veteran of five major league seasons with the Giants (2006, 2008-2010) and Brewers (2012), Ishikawa has hit .264 with 19 HR and 110 RBI in 375 career major league games. He signed a minor league deal with the Orioles in December, and has been one of the best players in Triple-A so far this season.

For the big league squad, Ishikawa will likely spend time at designated hitter in addition to backing up the red-hot Chris Davis at first base.