Albert Suárez, a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, has had a unique path to the major leagues. Unlike other top prospects on the team, Suárez is 34 years old and has already been a part of four other major league organizations. After spending five seasons in Japan and Korea, Suárez made his Orioles debut in April and has impressed in his first two starts, pitching a total of 11 1/3 scoreless innings. His journey to the Orioles began when the team’s director of pro scouting identified him as a potential target in 2017 while preparing for the Rule 5 draft.
Suárez’s career took a turn when he suffered a left calf injury in August of the previous year, leading the Korean team he was playing for to release him and make room for another import player. This opened up an opportunity for the Orioles to sign Suárez, who had previously eluded them due to other lucrative offers abroad. The team’s pitching staff recognized Suárez’s potential and gave him an opportunity to showcase his abilities during spring training. Despite a relatively high ERA in spring training, Suárez impressed manager Brandon Hyde and his coaching staff with his performance and was eventually called up to the major league team.
The Orioles are known for being selective in signing minor-league free agents, but trusted their scouting team to bring in Suárez, who demonstrated improvement in his pitching mechanics and secondary pitches. Signing Suárez in September allowed the team to work with him during their fall pitching camp in Florida, where they fine-tuned his delivery and helped him adjust to pitching in front of larger crowds. Suárez’s experience in Asia, where he faced challenges and gained valuable skills, has made him a more refined pitcher in the majors.
While it is still early in the season, Suárez’s success with the Orioles is a testament to the team’s scouting and player development efforts. The coaching staff saw potential in Suárez that others may have overlooked, and their investment in him has already paid off with his strong performances on the mound. Suárez, who was initially seen as just another minor off-season signing, has become a valuable asset to the Orioles’ pitching staff. His journey to the majors may have been unconventional, but it has proven to be a success story for both Suárez and the Orioles organization.
