Spring excitement, getting the All-Star Game to Baltimore, and a sleeper emerging in the bullpen.
Good morning Birdland,
We have our first taste of spring training hype, and it comes from one of the new faces in camp: Tomoyuki Sugano! The 35-year-old comes to Baltimore with moderate expectations. His numbers in Japan have been great throughout his career, but there are questions about his ability to translate that into MLB success. If his first bullpen is any indication, he should be just fine.
Orioles’ pitching coach Drew French described Sugano as having “80 command” on the 20-80 scouting scale. That is as good as it gets, folks.
New backup catcher Gary Sánchez, who caught Sugano in his debut bullpen, was shocked at how good Sugano looked. According to MASN’s Roch Kubatko, Sánchez said “woah” a few times during the session, responding to the movement and precision of the veteran’s offerings.
All of this comes as Sugano was fresh off of an 18-hour flight from Japan and being trailed by a sizable throng of his native media. That’s a lot to deal with, although possibly a bit easier for an experienced player to handle compared to a young one.
The Orioles are not pinning all of their hopes and dreams on Sugano in 2025. His one-year, $13-million deal reflects the modest expectations he comes with. At the same time, he is not someone on the fringes of the roster. If Sugano is healthy, he is making the team, and he is taking the ball every fifth day. That is a crucial role.
Look, it’s February. No one is winning the World Series this week, and getting overly excited about a bullpen is silly at any time of the year. However, it is better to get positive reviews rather than negative ones. If Sugano had come to Sarasota with no sense for the strike zone and tossing 80 mph four-seamers we would all be panicked. This scenario is much better.
Links
Keep an eye on these prospects at O’s camp | Orioles.com
The Orioles do not have an obvious plan for center field in 2026. Cedric Mullins is due to hit free agency after this season. Colton Cowser could fill in, but that would create another opening in the corners. A big season for Enrique Bradfield Jr. could solve a lot of problems. But he is also is likely to start the year in Double-A, so there is no guarantee that he will be fully ready, even with an outstanding 2025.
Some extras on Tomoyuki Sugano’s bullpen session | Roch Kubatko
Even more quotes on the Sugano bullpen that EVERYONE is talking about. He may not end up a Cy Young contender, but it feels like he will at least be a perfectly fine big league starter. That’s also useful.
Bringing the MLB All-Star Game to Baltimore must be a priority for David Rubenstein | The Baltimore Banner
Yeah, I would agree. It should have already happened years ago. While Camden Yards needs (and will soon receive) upgrades, that has not been the case for each of the last 32 years. It’s ridiculous that Baltimore has not been given the Midsummer Classic despite baseball fans all agreeing that it is one of the sport’s top stadiums.
Martinez a real eye-opener on mound early in Orioles camp | Orioles.com
That’s what I’m talking about! We love an unknown reliever popping in the spring. The Orioles bullpen situation is pretty full, but injuries happen. We will keep an eye on Rodolfo Martinez.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday! According to Baseball Reference, no former Orioles players were born on this day, but that doesn’t mean the date is without other famous birthday pals. That includes actor Jeff Daniels (b. 1955), NFL comissioner Roger Goodell (b. 1959), soccer legend Marta (b. 1986), NBA star Nikola Jokić (b. 1995), and Grammy-winner Chappell Roan (b. 1998).
This day in O’s history
February 19th has been a slow day in Orioles history, according to Baseball Reference. So, instead, here are a few happenings from beyond Birdland:
1878 – Thomas Edison patents the phonograph.
1901 – Pedro Lascuráin becomes the President of Mexico for 45 minutes. He had been serving as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs when a coup t’état toppled the Mexican government. Lascuráin’s tenure as President was a formality in transitioning the government to the new regime.
1959 – Cyprus earns its independence from the United Kingdom, although it is not formally proclaimed until August 16, 1960.
1985 – William Schroeder, a former Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, becomes the first recipient of an artificial heart to leave the hospital alive. He had the surgery the previous November and would live until August, 1986 with the artificial heart.