SF Giants: Former Rangers 1B turned hard-throwing lefty begins rehab assignment

SF Giants two-way player Ronald Guzmán began a minor league rehab assignment last week. He was once the Texas Rangers starting first baseman.

The SF Giants had first baseman/pitcher Ronald Guzmán begin a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday. He has been out since suffering a pronator sprain back in mid-March. In his first game, he went 0-for-2 with a walk and strikeout. He was a top prospect in the Texas Rangers farm system as a power-hitting first baseman during the mid-2010s and was a prominent member of the big-league team for several years. Guzmán was originally signed by Texas in 2012 as an international amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic, receiving a $3.5 million dollar signing bonus.

SF Giants P Ronald Guzmán throws during a workout at Scottsdale Stadium. (2023) / Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants signed Guzmán to a minor-league deal this past offseason, primarily due to an intriguing new experiment that began late last season. Guzmán has always been an above-average athlete for someone his size with an incredible arm. He began pitching in a competitive environment over the course of the offseason and was trying to reemerge as a two-way player.

Guzmán was electric this spring, reaching 98 mph with his fastball alongside a sharp slider that flashed plus-plus potential. The southpaw was still struggling with inconsistent command but still racked up five strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched this spring (8.10 ERA). It will be interesting to see if he returns to the mound in Arizona soon.

Guzmán made his MLB debut with Texas as a 23-year-old in 2018. Appearing in 123 games, he hit .235/.306/.416 with 16 home runs. While injuries limited him to 87 games the following season, he posted a comparable .219/.308/.414 line with 20 doubles and 10 home runs.

Texas remained patient, waiting for Guzmán to progress from a mediocre slugger to a consistent power-hitter. However, the 6'5'' lefty was never able to take that step forward. After a torn meniscus held him out for the majority of the 2021 season, Guzmán was outrighted off the Rangers' 40-man roster and became a free agent. He struggled with various injuries during his MiLB career, suffering a concussion and a variety of leg injuries.

Guzmán inked a minor-league deal with the New York Yankees for the 2022 season, hitting .255/.344/.478 at Triple-A before appearing in three games during a late-season callup. New York designated him for assignment after his 0-for-6 stint, and he returned to free agency last winter. Perhaps he could still help the SF Giants this season.