Major Leaguer resume Vol.100/ WBC Player’s resume Vol.86: Ranger Suarez(Philadelphia Phillies) : Major Candidate for Team Venezuela: “Strong against left-handed batters!!”

​■Today’s player
Today's player's resume concerns the Philadelphia Phillies' starter Ranger Suarez. Suarez is a Venezuelan-born player and will represent Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

■The KAISPO's baseball analyst comments
"Ranger Suarez is a valuable starting lefty for the Phillies, strong against left-handed batters. Suarez was primarily a reliever until 2020 but has been used more as a starter since 2021.

His velocity is average, but he has a smooth arm swing and throws six pitches with sharpness. While he mainly pitches fastballs, he is good at breaking batters' timing with changeups and curveballs.

He was out of form in the first half of 2022 with low back spasms. However, after the All-Star break, the lefty turned it around, eventually finishing with 10-7 and a 3.65 ERA.

Suarez will be expected to play a critical role as a starting lefty in 2023 and beyond for the Philly, who are still reeling from their 2022 World Series loss."

■Story
The Phillies signed a free agent Ranger Suarez to a minor league contract on April 1, 2012.

Then, Suarez, Phillies' No.8 prospect, was promoted to the majors on July 24, 2018. Two days later, he made his big league debut with the Phillies facing the Cincinnati Reds. He picked up his first victory and gave up four runs and six hits in five-plus frames, allowing a walk, three strikeouts, and two homers in the Phils' 9-4 win. Suarez was 1-1, with a 5.40 ERA across four contests with three starts in his first season.

In 2019, the left-hander successfully made 37 relief appearances covering 48.2 innings, marking 6-1 with a 3.14 ERA and 42 strikeouts. In 2021, the 27-year-old took the mound 12 times as a starter after August, finishing the campaign with an 8-5, 1.36 ERA. Primarily he well handled opposing left-handed batters with an AVG of .109.

■MLB Career Stats
At the end of the 2022 season, the Venezuelan pitcher has posted 25-15 with a 3.12 ERA and 290 strikeouts through 112 games, including 44 starts in 329 innings in his five MLB campaigns.
(MLB No.408 KAISPO No.1588)