Ranger Suarez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #8 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Suarez was a longshot, pitchability lefty when the Phillies signed him out of Venezuela for $25,000. Over the years, he has added more power to complement his savvy and become a legitimate prospect. He split 2018 between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley and made his big league debut.
  
  Scouting Report: In 2017, Suarez adjusted his lower-half mechanics to stay into his back leg more, which helped his velocity jump to sit in the low 90s and reach as high as 95 mph. He maintained that velocity throughout the 2018 season, and hides the ball well in his delivery, adding deception that helps his stuff play up. The secondary pitch Suarez leans on most is his mid-80s changeup, a solid-average offering. His slider isn't consistent but when it's on, it can be an average pitch. Suarez doesn't have one wipeout pitch, but he's a smart pitcher who mixes and matches both his stuff and his location. He's a good athlete who fields his position well and has quick feet to control the running game.
  
  The Future: Suarez projects as a back-end starter and should compete for a spot in Philadelphia's rotation to open the season, though there's a chance he could begin the year back in Triple-A.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #11 prospect in 2018
  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.

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  After starting in Double-A Reading, Suarez received a promotion to Triple-A at the end of June. Suarez has always had advanced feel for pitching and deception, but last year he got his legs into his delivery and added more power to his fastball. He throws 90-95 mph, with four-seamers and mostly two-seamers that have heavy sink. His go-to secondary weapon is a mid-80s changeup that flashes solid-average. He also throws a slider that can be an average pitch at times. He projects as a No. 4 starter, with a chance to exceed that in some years.