PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 16: Ranger Suarez #55 of the Philadelphia Phillies has water and ... [+]
For many baseball fans, Ranger Suarez was not a familiar name.
Until now. Until this year.
Clearly, Philadelphia Phillies fans, if not the entire Major League Baseball universe, now know and admire the pitching skills of left-hander, Ranger Suarez.
Suarez, 28, has fashioned a very formidable 10-1 record in 13 Phillies starts.
Suarez’ latest win came June 8, against the New York Mets in New York.
In his 10th victory, Suarez went 5.2 innings, yielding two runs, both earned. He gave up eight hits, walked one, and struck out six.
Suarez’ victory lifted the Phillies to a 45-19 record at the time.
Prior to the start of play June 11, the Phillies have a commanding nine-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East Division, with a stellar 45-20 record.
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suárez (55) in the sixth inning of a baseball game ... [+]
About Ranger Suarez:
Ranger Suarez comes from a Venezuelan family where all the children’s names begin with the letter “R”. He has brothers named Raymer and Rosmer, and a sister named Rangerlin.
The Philadelphia Phillies signed Ranger Suarez as an international free agent from Venezuela in 2012.
Suarez received a $25,000 signing bonus from the Phillies, and was considered to be a real long shot to become a major league quality pitcher.
Suarez was only 16-years-old when he signed, and he got his first chance as a professional pitching for the Phillies in the 2012 Venezuelan League.
Suarez saw his first professional season negatively impacted by a suspension for drug use.
So young when he signed with Philadelphia, Suarez spent parts of nine seasons in his minor league development program.
As his frame filled out, and his pitches became more crisp, the outlook for Suarez turned from a potential borderline professional, to a credible, back-end of the rotation starter.
Now 6-1, 217 pounds, Suarez has added 27 pounds to his frame since he was signed as a 16-year-old.
Suarez made his major league debut in July 2018, when he was about to turn 22 in a month. Suarez threw 5 innings against the Cincinnati Reds. Even though he didn’t have great success in the game, Suarez was credited with the victory.
Now, pitching in his 7th major league season, all with the Phillies, Suarez has a record of 39-22, in 79 starts.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 21: Ranger Suárez #55 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on after ... [+]
Solid Repertoire:
Little has changed for Suarez since brooksbaseball.net began tracking his pitches in 2018. At that time, he was throwing his four-seam fastball at 92.7 miles per hour.
Suarez also threw a 91.4 miles per hour sinking fastball, a slider, and a changeup.
Now, in 2024, Suarez is throwing his four-seam fastball at 92.6 miles per hour, and his sinker at 91.7 miles per hour. He is still throwing the slider and changeup, but he has added a curve to his arsenal.
Suarez throws his curveball 21.74% of the time.
It is his vast and improved repertoire that may have helped Ranger Suarez navigate the tough lineups he faces every start.
From the time he began as a rookie, Suarez has made solid, steady progress as a pitcher.
Suarez has gone from spending time closing games in the bullpen, to taking the ball every fifth day as part of the very formidable Phillies starting rotation.
Suarez was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for March/April this year. He started the season winning all six starts, throwing to a 1.32 ERA and 0.63 WHIP in 41 innings.
Suarez threw a complete game shutout against the Colorado Rockies April 16.
The only loss Suarez has endured so far this season came May 26, when the Rockies defeated the Phillies 5-2, at Coors Field in Denver. In that game, Suarez went six innings, and yielded five runs, four of them earned.
Philadelphia Phillies' Zack Wheeler plays during a baseball game, Friday, May 17, 2024, in ... [+]
As noted by fangraphs.com, the Phillies outstanding rotation normally sets up like this:
Zack Wheeler-RHP
Cristopher Sanchez-LHP
Aaron Nola-RHP
Ranger Suarez-LHP
Taijuan Walker-RHP
At the start of play June 11, the Phillies pitching staff is second in Major League Baseball, with a sparkling 2.93 ERA.
The Phillies staff has yielded only 49 home runs, the least in MLB.
The opposition is hitting only .219 against the Phillies.
Lefty Ranger Suarez is a huge part of the team’s success.
