Orioles morning spring training notes on McGregor, Webb and Suárez

SARASOTA, Fla. – Scott McGregor won big games for the Orioles, including his shutout against the Phillies to clinch the 1983 World Series. He served in a variety of roles upon his retirement, including rehab pitching coordinator for eight seasons before his dismissal in 2019. He had worked as a pitching coach in the minors and fill-in bullpen coach for the Orioles. He’s seen a lot.

His eyes presently are locked onto pitchers and players at the spring training complex with his return as a guest instructor.

“When I was let go, Mike (Elias) said, ‘Listen, we know what you’ve done for the organization and we’ll always let you come back as a visiting guy,’ so it’s been good,” McGregor recalled yesterday. “These guys are the ones that I coached before. I’m very good with them and they like seeing me and I like seeing them. It’s fun to stay in touch.

“I’m just really impressed with what’s going on with the whole Elias regime and with Hyder (Brandon Hyde) and them. They’ve done a great job. So, you’ve just got to win a playoff game.”

Maybe this year.

McGregor adapted to a changing game with its analytics and numbers that he didn’t know existed. Adapt or die.

“I totally understand it and really appreciate the work that these guys do. I mean, it’s amazing,” he said.

“In the coaches room, these guys work really hard. It’s not the world that I knew and I still see things that they see on camera, but I try not to say much about that. But you can’t go back, you know? A lot of guys from my day, they’re all (growls), but I say, ‘Guys, it’s evolution.’ In the Olympics every four years somebody runs faster and jumps higher. They say, 'I hired a trainer and got on the computer.’ That’s just the world we live in today, and they’ve done a great job adapting here.”

Other guest instructors this spring include former closer Zack Britton, who arrives today, shortstop J.J. Hardy and outfielders Al Bumbry, John Shelby, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones.

“That was never done before,” McGregor said. “They didn’t bring the old guys back in, so they’re embracing us and bringing those things together. I think you get a good mix.”

McGregor remembers pitching in the minors with a manager and a trainer. He had “a little white ball” and was told to “go figure it out.”

“Now, they sit down together and they do it through eyes of the computer and cameras and each other and talking,” he said. “It’s definitely a modern game and it’s in college and it’s in high school. You can’t go back. That’s just where it is and it’s working well. These guys have done great.

“What can you say? They’re in the playoffs. (Elias) said in five years he’d get them in the playoffs, and they were in the playoffs. Us and the Ravens have got to learn to go one step further.”

* Nate Webb threw his first bullpen session yesterday morning. He’s scheduled for live batting practice on Wednesday and Saturday.

Webb was recovered from Tommy John surgery in 2023 when he ruptured his left Achilles tendon in May. The Orioles were on the verge of assigning him to an affiliate.

They signed him to a two-year minor league contract in October 2023 that included an invitation to spring training.  

“I feel great,” Webb said earlier this week. “I’ve been facing some hitters, doing some PFPs, all that kind of stuff, and I feel great.”

Webb was working out in Sarasota when he tore his Achilles.

“There’s no warning signs at all, just kind of, I guess, stepped wrong,” he said. “I don’t know. It just kind of went on me and that was that. I was right at the end of my Tommy John rehab. I was a week away actually from getting to go on my rehab assignments and that happened.

“It was really disappointing, especially because everybody knows Tommy John is a long process. I was in month 15 at that point and not getting to compete that year was pretty disappointing.”

Webb, 27, is waiting to make his major league debut after the Royals drafted him in the 34^th round in 2016 out of Lee’s Summit North High School in Missouri. Kansas City non-tendered him, he signed with the Pirates in 2023 and had the elbow surgery in spring training without appearing in any games.

The Orioles showed their commitment to Webb by offering him the two-year deal to retain control this year.

“I was really appreciative of them,” he said. “Just kind of shows that they believe in me, that they believe in my ability. I knew that I was gonna be good when I came back and then that happened and I’m sure they were disappointed, as well. But stuff like that happens and I’m glad to be back here again and glad to get to compete here soon.”

* Albert Suárez surrendered a home run yesterday to Adley Rutschman in live batting practice on the stadium field, but don’t judge him too harshly.

It wasn’t indicative of how he’s pitching in camp.

“I’m really impressed with how he looks and the work he put in this offseason,” Hyde said. “He’s throwing the ball really, really well right now. He’s a smart guy who’s been around, pitched everywhere. Making adjustments and continuing to improve isn’t something that’s new for him.

“I know he’s looking to build off last year. He’s as ready to go as anybody out there right now.”

Suárez should be ready for a relief role again unless there’s an injury to one of the five starters.