Sugano flashes impressive stuff in first live BP in Spring Training
Jake Rill
@JakeDRillSARASOTA, Fla. -- For the first time since arriving in the United States one week ago, Tomoyuki Sugano put on a full Orioles uniform and took the mound on the main field at Ed Smith Stadium. The 35-year-old Japanese right-hander toed the rubber late Friday morning, entered his windup and threw his first pitch to catcher Adley Rutschman.
Live batting practice was underway in sunny Sarasota, and all eyes were on Sugano.
¡°It had a special feeling because it was the first time,¡± Sugano said via interpreter Yuto Sakurai. ¡°It felt like Spring Training was just starting.¡±
It¡¯s important to remember that live BP in February is more about the reps and less about the results. With that said, Sugano flashed his impressive stuff at times while facing a trio of Baltimore¡¯s top outfield prospects -- Dylan Beavers, Jud Fabian and Enrique Bradfield Jr.
Sugano faced Beavers and Fabian three times apiece and Bradfield twice. The results (on paper) were mixed. Sugano struck out Fabian swinging twice, while Beavers and Bradfield both had some loud contact, especially the former.
But Sugano came away pleased with the showing, during which he displayed an array of offerings from his diverse six-pitch arsenal.
¡°I had a good feel for it,¡± Sugano said. ¡°I was able to pitch the way I thought I would be able to, so it was good.¡±
Beavers has never faced big league pitching, so Sugano¡¯s stuff was better than the 23-year-old is used to seeing. Beavers cited the splitter as a ¡°pretty good pitch,¡± and he also saw a heavy dose of fastballs and curveballs from the righty.
¡°I felt like especially compared to like Double-A, Triple-A, just better command,¡± Beavers said. ¡°You could really tell that¡¯s what he was focusing on, was hitting spots.¡±
That was Rutschman¡¯s biggest takeaway, too, as the All-Star backstop cited Sugano¡¯s control as what separates him from other pitchers he¡¯s caught.
¡°Every pitcher¡¯s unique, and for him, his location,¡± Rutschman said. ¡°He¡¯s got a six-pitch mix. Splitter is really good. I think he¡¯s got the weapons to be able to attack guys in a lot of different ways.¡±
Sugano could be a key contributor for Baltimore this season, his first in MLB following a 12-year career with the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball. He signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the O¡¯s, who have shown a desire to be more involved in the Japanese market.
Rutschman was part of the introductory Zoom calls with Sugano after the signing, and the two have talked with backup catcher Gary S¨¢nchez, the pitching coaches and others about getting Sugano adjusted to the U.S. style of play.
The first step was accomplished Friday, when Rutschman said live BP allowed the club to get ¡°real feedback¡± on Sugano from the hitters and ¡°put words into action.¡±
¡°Definitely today was more about just seeing as many pitches as we could, even if it¡¯s not what we would throw to them in a game setting,¡± Rutschman said. ¡°We just kind of wanted to play around with some stuff, really get a feel for each other and what he¡¯s able to do and just get different looks.¡±
Su¨¢rez starting Grapefruit opener
The Orioles will hand the ball to right-hander Albert Suárez on Saturday when they open the 2025 Grapefruit League season vs. the Pirates on Saturday at Ed Smith Stadium. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. ET on MASN.
The 35-year-old Su¨¢rez is coming off a remarkable 2024 campaign in which he returned to the U.S. after five years in Japan and Korea, then recorded a 3.70 ERA in 32 games (24 starts).
¡°Just lining things up, honestly, and Albert¡¯s ready to go,¡± manager Brandon Hyde said. ¡°Don¡¯t read anything into it, it¡¯s just Big Al¡¯s ready. ... We¡¯re stretching Al out as a starter, and we¡¯ll see how it goes.¡±
More pitching plans
After Su¨¢rez, the following pitchers are scheduled to appear for the Orioles on Saturday: left-hander Keegan Akin, right-hander Bryan Baker, righty Corbin Martin, righty Justin Armbruester and righty Kade Strowd.
Left-hander Cade Povich will start Sunday¡¯s exhibition game vs. the Phillies in Clearwater.