Emerging: Orioles have found a pitcher hanging out in that clubhouse

As we watched right-hander Albert Suárez emerge it seemed out of nowhere to fan seven Philadelphia Phillies in three scoreless innings yesterday in Clearwater, we could wonder further if there is another to come out of nowhere in that clubhouse?

Suárez got 12 whiffs on 23 swings while touching 97.5 mph on the radar gun.

Brandon Hyde was rather impressed.

“He really threw the ball extremely well,” said the Baltimore skipper. “I’m really impressed with his strike throwing ability, big-time life to his fastball. He was throwing his fastball by good major league hitters. He’s got four pitches he throws for strikes, and he’s got command of them. It’s going to be fun to watch him. We didn’t know a whole lot about him, and he’s come in and thrown 97 with good secondary stuff, so really impressed with him today.”

Is lefty Ronald Guzmán next to surprise us?

Guzmán was once considered someone that could be the Texas Rangers first baseman for a long time. In his rookie season of 2018 with the Rangers, Guzmán posted a .722 OPS in 428 plate appearances and hit 16 homers.

He has 31 homers in 246 career big league games, but now Guzmán is trying to return to the majors as a pitcher.

He can throw in the high 90s and the Orioles are intrigued to see what he can do this season. They understand he’s a project to work with and one that may not work out. Last year he tried to be a two-way player in the San Fransisco organization, but a left forearm strain thwarted those plans, and he was released in August. The Orioles signed him Jan. 25

The conversion to the mound continues in Sarasota as he takes a few small steps at a time right now.

“Been going well. Throwing bullpens two times a week for now. Not sure when I will be in a game,” said Guzmán.

He said in his most recent bullpen session over the weekend he was throwing his fastball from 94 to 97 mph, and he threw 35 pitches.

“It’s a big left-handed arm, used to be bat, now arm, that throws in the upper 90s so, just doesn’t have the experience,” Hyde said. “We have him in major league camp around the big league pitching coaches and our team here. Try to develop him as best we can when the season starts. But I think it’s one of those where you take a shot at a guy with a great arm that’s left-handed and hopefully it clicks.”

He and the organization understand this is a long-term project to track the progress over months and not weeks.

“Yes, for sure,” said Guzmán, 29. “I definitely don’t want to rush it and I felt that was something that happened last year. My main goal last year was to be a two-way player, but now that I am (only) pitching I don’t want to rush it and regret something. Take it as how I feel.”

What excites him about the chance to pitch?

“Just competing. I’m in control now,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not in the box waiting for the pitcher to throw the ball. I’m on the mound now. The adrenaline is definitely different. I’ve had a taste of it, and I like the adrenaline you feel on the mound for sure.”

When the Orioles break north to begin the 2024 season, Guzmán is likely to remain in Florida and pitch at extended spring and at some point be assigned to a minor league club.

“Yes. Yes. I think I am going to be here (in Florida) longer than usual and whenever they decide I am ready to go out somewhere then I will go somewhere.

“I really like this team. It’s, I don’t know, simple I feel like. They have a science to it, but they simplify things. I really like the way they go about their business and the team is in a really good spot right now,” he said.

About that win yesterday: It was another good day for Birdland on Tuesday afternoon against the Phillies. The 3-2 win was highlighted by Suárez’s swing and miss stuff and Jackson Holliday’s 3-for-4 day. The O’s No. 1 farm again showed what it can do as several young players showed their stuff in the victory.