Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 50

The Rays have made a habit recently of picking up intriguing, little-known prospects out of the complex leagues and turning them into big leaguers. That’s how they landed Curtis Mead, who became a Top 100 prospect shortly afterward. Junior Caminero came aboard in a similar deal and rocketed to the top of the list. Now, Suarez is making a case for himself as the top pitching prospect in the system a year after joining the Rays alongside Marcus Johnson in a November 2022 trade that sent Xavier Edwards and JT Chargois to the Marlins.

The Venezuelan right-hander was a statistical standout in the Dominican Summer League in 2022, showing unusual command for a 17-year-old pitcher. He continued that in his first season with the Rays, breezing through 10 outings with their Florida Complex League affiliate, then logging a 2.29 ERA in five starts for Single-A Charleston. He doesn’t have much physical projection left even though he’s only 19, but he has arguably the highest floor of any pitcher in the system for a simple reason: He throws strikes.

Suarez has a repeatable delivery and an even-keeled mindset, both traits indicating maturity beyond his years that should serve him well as he advances through the system. His fastball typically sits between 91-94 mph, with a bit more velocity when he needs it, and he rounds out his arsenal with a changeup and an upper-70s curveball. He’ll face older and more experienced competition, which could test his ability to miss enough bats, but he’s done nothing but perform well against his peers to this point.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55 | Overall: 45

Given their recent track record, you can’t help but notice when the Rays trade for a player out of a complex league. They plucked Curtis Mead out of virtual obscurity, and he became a Top 100 prospect almost immediately. Junior Caminero is following a similar path. Could Suarez be next? The Rays liked the Venezuelan righty as an amateur prospect and certainly seem to think they have something after picking him up alongside Marcus Johnson in the deal that sent Xavier Edwards and JT Chargois to Miami. 

Suarez was one of the better pitchers, statistically, in the Dominican Summer League last season. The 6-foot-2 right-hander posted a 2.31 ERA with 38 strikeouts and only six walks in 39 innings over 11 starts for the Marlins’ affiliate. So, while there is a fair amount of projection involved for a pitcher who only just turned 18 years old and has a relatively mature body, he’s already proven he can perform relative to his peers. That has continued this summer with his first stateside move to the Florida Complex League.

Suarez has seen his fastball velocity tick up to 91-94 mph, and he complements his heater with a changeup and a true curveball that sits between 75-79 mph. He has the traits of a starter, with a repeatable delivery and arm action that allowed him to consistently throw strikes in the DSL and FCL. He still has a long way to go, and he’ll have to prove himself against tougher competition, but there’s reason to believe Tampa Bay may have discovered another contributor in the complex leagues.

Awards

FCL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

FCL Pitcher of the Year

Year	Team
2023

Baseball America Rookie All-Star

Year	Team
2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/15/2023	RHP Santiago Suarez assigned to Charleston RiverDogs from FCL Rays.
	08/15/2023	Charleston RiverDogs activated RHP Santiago Suarez.
	11/15/2022	Tampa Bay Rays traded RHP JT Chargois and SS Xavier Edwards to Miami Marlins for RHP Marcus Johnson and RHP Santiago Suarez.
	11/15/2022	FCL Rays activated RHP Santiago Suarez.
	11/15/2022	RHP Santiago Suarez assigned to DSL Rays.
	11/15/2022	FCL Rays activated RHP Santiago Suarez.
	11/15/2022	RHP Santiago Suarez roster status changed by Tampa Bay Rays.
	06/05/2022	RHP Santiago Suarez assigned to DSL Miami.
	06/05/2022	DSL Miami activated RHP Santiago Suarez.
	06/01/2022	Miami Marlins signed free agent RHP Santiago Suarez to a minor league contract.