BA GRADE
50
Risk: High
Born: Aug. 26, 1995. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 190. Signed: Venezuela, 2012. Signed by: Jesus Mendez.
A $25,000 signing out of Venezuela as a 16-year-old, Suarez early became known for his control and pitchability, but looked like more of a smoke-and-mirrors pitcher with an upper-80s fastball. In 2017, his velocity jumped, his strikeout rate increased and he moved through two levels in his first year of full-season ball.
Suarez showed more zip on his fastball in 2017, sitting in the low 90s and touching 95 mph. He incorporated his legs more in his delivery, which helped him use his whole body to generate more power. He doesn’t have a true out pitch among his secondary offerings, but they’re all average or near-average across the board, with a slider or curveball that he goes to depending on what’s working for him that night. His changeup also improved as he adjusted his hand position, which changed the movement on the pitch from cutting action to a more traditional sink and fade to run away from righthanded hitters. Suarez has control and pitching savvy beyond his years, with the ability to read swings, set hitters up and throw any pitch in any count. He’s a good athlete who controls the running game well with a quick pickoff move.
Suarez should continue to move quickly and projects as a back-end starter.
Year |
Club (League) |
Class |
W |
L |
ERA |
G |
GS |
2015 |
Phillies (GCL) |
R |
3 |
0 |
0.65 |
6 |
4 |
2016 |
Williamsport (NYP) |
SS |
6 |
4 |
2.81 |
13 |
13 |
2017 |
Lakewood (SAL) |
LoA |
6 |
2 |
1.59 |
14 |
14 |
|
Clearwater (FSL) |
HiA |
2 |
4 |
3.82 |
8 |
8 |
Minor League Totals |
22 |
14 |
2.09 |
66 |
54 |
||
Year |
Club (League) |
CG |
SV |
IP |
H |
HR |
2015 |
Phillies (GCL) |
0 |
0 |
28 |
15 |
0 |
2016 |
Williamsport (NYP) |
2 |
0 |
74 |
61 |
4 |
2017 |
Lakewood (SAL) |
1 |
0 |
85 |
52 |
4 |
|
Clearwater (FSL) |
0 |
0 |
38 |
43 |
1 |
Minor League Totals |
3 |
3 |
327 |
258 |
13 |
|
Year |
Club (League) |
BB |
SO |
K/9 |
WHIP |
AVG |
2015 |
Phillies (GCL) |
4 |
20 |
6.5 |
0.69 |
.158 |
2016 |
Williamsport (NYP) |
24 |
53 |
6.5 |
1.15 |
.223 |
2017 |
Lakewood (SAL) |
24 |
90 |
9.5 |
0.89 |
.177 |
|
Clearwater (FSL) |
11 |
38 |
9.1 |
1.43 |
.293 |
Minor League Totals |
67 |
296 |
8.2 |
0.99 |
.214 |
|