Former MLB First Baseman Now Intriguing Orioles Pitching Prospect

A former Texas Rangers first baseman is trying to break back into the Majors as a pitcher.

There was a time that the Texas Rangers thought Ronald Guzmán might be their first baseman of the future.

Now, the Baltimore Orioles are taking a chance on Guzmán in minor league spring training — but not as a first baseman.

Guzmán is in camp as a pitcher, and according to MLB.com, Guzmán is putting some solid numbers in bullpen sessions.

The Dominican Republic native is throwing two bullpen sessions per week in Orioles camp, and he his fastball is hitting 94-96 mph consistently. It has also hit as high as 97 mph.

This isn’t the first time that Guzmán has sought to make the transition to pitcher. But this is the first time that he’s trying to do it full time.

Guzmán signed with the New York Yankees late in 2022, where he started his conversion to a pitcher with the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate but continued to hit.

He pitched in one minor league game, retiring one hitter as he walked two and struck out one. The Yankees briefly called up him up and he went hitless in six at-bats before he was designated for assignment.

Last year he signed with the San Francisco Giants with the intention of being a pitcher and hitter. But that never got off the ground, thanks to a pronator strain in his left forearm with is his throwing arm. He played in three minor league games and never pitched before he was released.

The Orioles signed him in late January and all he will do is pitch. It’s not clear if Guzmán will pitch in any spring training games. But, he will remain in Sarasota, Fla., to continue to work before he’s assigned to a minor league affiliate.

The Rangers signed Guzmán as an international free agent in 2011 and he made his way to the Majors in 2018.

He played a career-high 123 games in that rookie season, as he batted .235 with 16 home runs and 58 RBI.

He was dogged by injuries in 2019 as he batted .219 with 10 home runs and 36 RBI in 87 games.

In 2021 Guzmán tore the meniscus in his right knee while making his first career start in the outfield and underwent season-ending surgery. The Rangers outrighted him after the season.