Do Phillies fans need to worry about Ranger Suárez’s stuff after spring debut?..
The left-hander featured lower pitch velocity in his first outing of the spring.
The 2025 MLB season will be crucial for Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suárez. He is entering a contract year and will be a free agent at the end of the season. The left-hander changed agents during the offseason, hiring the well-known Scott Boras. The move increases the probability that the starter will not sign a new contract with the Phillies during the regular season.
Suárez had his first outing of spring training on March 4 versus the New York Yankees. He threw for two innings and allowed one hit along with two strikeouts. Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson and shortstop Trea Turner scolded the pitcher when he attempted to stop a pitch hit back to the mound with his throwing hand. MLB.com beat writer Todd Zolecki wrote about another topic that may be concerning but does not appear to be an issue for the starter: a drop in velocity.
Phillies fans should not be concerned about the drop in Ranger Suárez’s pitch velocity
Suárez is focused on having a good season but also remaining healthy.
“We all know to get a Cy Young [Award] you need to pitch really well for a whole season,” Suárez said, per Zolecki. “I think that’s the first thing I have to do. Remain healthy. Pitch well. But I’m focused on staying healthy throughout the year.”
Suárez experienced a drop in velocity versus the Yankees. Zolecki wrote that the 29-year-old’s four-seam fastball reached 89.8 mph. This speed was down 2.6 mph from his average last spring and 2.0 mph from his regular season average.
The Pie de Cuesta, Venezuela native, was not concerned.
“Just remember I never threw fast,” Suárez said, per Zolecki. The left-hander looked like an NL Cy Young Award candidate during the first three months of last season. Injuries, specifically to his back, derailed his solid year.
Suárez wants to remain healthy in 2025 for his financial future and to help the Phillies win a World Series. He is focused on having a good year and wants to remain with the organization.
“I don’t want to think about leaving this place ever.” Suarez said, per Zolecki. ““I want to keep believing that I’m going to stay here and that I’m going to stay here for a long time. Because that’s all that I want.”
Philadelphia Phillies starter Ranger Suárez
If Suárez stays healthy, the Phillies rotation will be better off. The club can have its best starting rotation in years, depth-wise. The addition of Jesús Luzardo in a trade with the Miami Marlins this winter rounds out the club’s starters, featuring Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola and Suárez. This also includes Taijuan Walker and one of Philly’s new additions, Joe Ross, who will be a spot starter and reliever.
Top pitching prospect Andrew Painter is on track to be promoted to the team during the summer. If he is, the rotation can be even better, especially if everyone remains effective and healthy. Suárez could elevate the starting rotation if he avoids injuries and returns to the form he exhibited during the first three months of last season.