Andrew Suárez Explained

Andrew Suárez
Team:Free agent
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:11 September 1992
Birth Place:Miami, Florida, U.S.
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
Debutdate:April 11
Debutyear:2018
Debutteam:San Francisco Giants
Debutleague:MLB
Debut2league:KBO
Debut2date:April 6
Debut2year:2021
Debut2team:LG Twins
Debut3league:NPB
Debut3date:May 12
Debut3year:2022
Debut3team:Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:2023 season
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:7–15
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:4.96
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:177
Stat2league:KBO
Stat2year:2021 season
Stat21label:Win–loss record
Stat21value:10–2
Stat22label:Earned run average
Stat22value:2.18
Stat23label:Strikeouts
Stat23value:126
Stat3league:NPB
Stat3year:2022 season
Stat31label:Win–loss record
Stat31value:0–0
Stat32label:Earned run average
Stat32value:6.23
Stat33label:Strikeouts
Stat33value:16
Teams:

Andrew José Suárez (born September 11, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, in the KBO League for the LG Twins, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. The Giants selected Suárez in the second round of the 2015 MLB draft.

Early life and education

Suárez was born in Miami, on September 11, 1992. He attended Christopher Columbus High School in Miami.[1] He is of Cuban descent.[2]

In 2010, he had a 5–1 win–loss record with a 1.51 earned run average (ERA), and was named First Team All-Dade County and FHSAA Class 6-A Pitcher of the Year.[3] In 2011 he was 5–3 with a 1.65 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched, and was All-Dade County First Team and an AFLAC All-American.[3]

He enrolled at the University of Miami to play college baseball for the Miami Hurricanes baseball team. As a Hurricane, Suárez became a top prospect.[4] The Washington Nationals selected Suárez in the second round, with the 57th overall selection, of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[5] [6]

He chose to return to the University of Miami for his senior year,[7] [1] [8] in order to earn his degree and attempt to improve his draft status for 2015.[9]

Professional career

San Francisco Giants

Minor leagues (2015–2018)

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Suárez in the ninth round of the 2011 MLB draft, but he did not sign. The San Francisco Giants selected Suárez in the second round, with the 61st overall selection, of the 2015 MLB draft.[10] Suárez signed with the Giants for a signing bonus of $1,010,100, and made three appearances with the Arizona Giants of the rookie-level Arizona League before he was promoted to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Low–A Northwest League.[11] [12] In August, the Giants promoted Suárez to the San Jose Giants of the High–A California League.[13] In 39.1 total innings pitched between the three teams, he posted a 2–0 record and 1.60 ERA.

Suárez began the 2016 season in San Jose, and was promoted to the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Double–A Eastern League; he finished the season with a combined 9–8 record and 3.63 ERA in 24 total games started between both teams. In 2017, he started the season with Richmond and was promoted to the Sacramento River Cats of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League.[14] In 26 total games (24 starts) between Richmond and Sacramento, Suárez pitched to a 10–10 record and 3.30 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP.[15]

The Giants invited Suárez to spring training as a non-roster player in 2018.[16]

Major leagues (2018–2020)

The Giants promoted Suárez to the major leagues on April 11, 2018,[17] and he made his debut that same night at AT&T Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He started the game and pitched 5.1 innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits along with striking out seven and walking none; he received a loss as Arizona defeated the Giants 7–3.[18] In 2018 with Sacramento and San Jose he was 2–0 with a 1.16 ERA in four starts.[19] In 2018 with the Giants he was 7–13 with a 4.49 ERA, as in 29 starts he pitched 160.1 innings.[19]

In 2019 with Sacramento he was 7–6 with a 5.73 ERA in 18 games (15 starts) in which he pitched 88 innings.[19] That season with the Giants he was 0–2 with a 5.79 ERA, as in 21 games (2 starts) he pitched 32.2 innings.[19]

LG Twins (2021)

On January 4, 2021, the Giants sold Suárez's rights to the LG Twins of the KBO League.[20] That same day, he signed a one-year $600,000 deal with the Twins. Suárez made 23 appearances for the Twins, posting a 2.18 ERA and 126 strikeouts. He became a free agent following the season.

Tokyo Yakult Swallows (2022)

On December 20, 2021, Suárez signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball.[21] In 2022, Suárez made 6 appearances for the Swallows, struggling to 6.23 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 21.2 innings pitched. He became a free agent after the 2022 season.

St. Louis Cardinals (2023)

On January 27, 2023, Suárez signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.[22] In 28 games for the Triple–A Memphis Redbirds, he recorded a 4.08 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 64.0 innings of work. On July 24, the Cardinals selected Suárez's contract, adding him to the major league roster.[23] In 13 games for St. Louis, he struggled a 7.16 ERA with 17 strikeouts across innings of work. Following the season on October 26, Suárez was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Memphis. However, Suárez subsequently rejected the assignment and elected free agency.[24]

Baltimore Orioles (2024)

On January 30, 2024, Suárez signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.[25] In 10 games for the Triple–A Norfolk Tides, he recorded a 5.93 ERA with 12 strikeouts across innings pitched. On May 15, Suárez was released by the Orioles organization.[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Could Miami Hurricanes get back LHP Andy Suarez? Doubt it. But he still hasn't signed with Nationals. – Eye on the U. Miami Herald. June 24, 2015.
  2. Web site: 2020 MLB Season: What Cubans are in each 60 man pool. June 29, 2020.
  3. Web site: Andrew Suarez – Baseball – University of Miami Athletics . Hurricanesports.com . June 26, 2017. 2019-11-20.
  4. Web site: Baseball: UM's Andrew Suarez is top local 2014 draft prospect, Park Vista alum Trea Turner No. 3 overall – Canes Watch. palmbeachpost.com. June 24, 2015.
  5. Web site: In Round 2, Nats select Miami lefty Suarez. Washington Nationals. June 24, 2015.
  6. Web site: Miami lefty Andrew Suarez selected by Washington Nationals in MLB Draft. tribunedigital-sunsentinel. June 24, 2015.
  7. News: Nationals sign Erick Fedde; Andrew Suarez returning to Miami [Updated]]. Adam Kilgore. July 18, 2014. Washington Post. June 24, 2015.
  8. Web site: Baseball: LHP Andrew Suarez returns to Miami Hurricanes – Canes Watch. palmbeachpost.com. June 24, 2015.
  9. Web site: Andy Suarez ready to lead UM after turning down major-league money. miamiherald. June 24, 2015.
  10. Web site: Canes' Andrew Suarez gets taken 61st overall by Giants – Eye on the U. Miami Herald. June 24, 2015.
  11. Web site: Andrew Suarez . The Baseball Cube . 2015-07-05 . 2019-11-20.
  12. Web site: San Francisco Giants second-rounder Andrew Suarez throws five one-hit frames for Salem-Keizer Volcanoes – MiLB.com News – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. MiLB.com. August 21, 2015.
  13. Web site: San Francisco Giants second-rounder Andrew Suarez twirls four one-hit innings in California League debut for San Jose – MiLB.com News – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. MiLB.com. August 21, 2015.
  14. Web site: Pavlovic . Alex . Down on the Farm: Giants prospect Suarez sets season-high with nine Ks | NBCS Bay Area . Csnbayarea.com . 2017-07-28 . 2019-11-13.
  15. Web site: Andrew Suarez Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. MiLB.com. February 18, 2018.
  16. Web site: Fracassa . Dominic . Ty Blach, Andrew Suarez engage in Giants' rotation competition . SFChronicle.com . 2018-02-28 . 2019-11-13.
  17. Web site: Giants' Suarez to make major-league debut against Diamondbacks. Fox Sports. April 11, 2018.
  18. Web site: RotoWire Staff . Giants' Andrew Suarez: Gives up four runs but strikes out seven in debut . CBSSports.com . 2018-04-12 . 2019-11-13.
  19. Web site: Andrew Suarez College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History . Baseball-Reference.com . 2019-11-20.
  20. Web site: Giants Sign Curt Casali.
  21. Web site: Andrew Suarez Signs With NPB's Yakult Swallows.
  22. Web site: Cardinals' Andrew Suarez: Lands NRI from St. Louis. 2023-01-27. cbssports. en.
  23. Web site: Cardinals' Andrew Suarez: Contract selected by St. Louis. July 24, 2023. cbssports.com. en.
  24. Web site: Cardinals Outright Andrew Suárez, Casey Lawrenc. October 27, 2023. mlbtraderumors.com. en.
  25. Web site: Orioles' Andrew Suarez: Nets minors deal from O's. January 30, 2024. cbssports.com. en.
  26. Web site: Orioles Release Andrew Suarez. May 15, 2024. mlbtraderumors.com. en.