The Texas Rangers once believed Ronald Guzmán could be their long-term first baseman.
Guzmán is now being taken on by the Baltimore Orioles in minor league spring training, but not as a first baseman.
Pitcher Guzmán is in camp, and he appears to be producing well in bullpen sessions, per MLB.com.
In Orioles training, the Dominican Republic native throws two bullpen sessions a week and regularly hits 94–96 mph with his fastball. It’s also reached a peak speed of 97 mph.
Guzmán has attempted to switch to the pitching position previously. However, he is attempting to pursue it full-time for the first time.
Late in 2022, Guzmán signed a contract with the New York Yankees, where he hit while he began to transition to a pitcher with the team’s Triple-A affiliate.
He made one appearance in a minor league game and retired one batter while walking two and striking out one. He was called up by the Yankees for a brief stint, but he was sent after going hitless in six at-bats.
He inked a contract with the San Francisco Giants last year with the goal of playing both pitcher and batter. However, because of a pronator strain in his throwing arm, which is his left forearm, that never got off the ground. Before being released, he appeared in three minor league games but never pitched.
His role with the Orioles is limited to pitching; he was signed in late January. It is unclear if Guzmán will take the mound during any spring training contests. However, he will carry on working in Sarasota, Florida, until he is assigned to a minor league team.
In 2011, Guzmán was signed by the Rangers as an international free agent, and in 2018, he joined the Major League Baseball team.
At bat, he played a career-high 123 games during that first season.235 with 58 RBI and 16 home homers.
In 2019, he suffered injuries while batting.219 in 87 games with 10 home homers and 36 RBI.
While making his first career start in the outfield in 2021, Guzmán tore the meniscus in his right knee, necessitating season-ending surgery. After the season, he was outrighted by the Rangers.