Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
When the Angels signed Suarez in July 2014, they hoped his advanced feel for pitching would allow him to move through their system fairly quickly. He didn't fill them with confidence when he first began, struggling a bit to find consistency when he came to the United States in 2015 and again in 2016. He pitched well in his first taste of full-season ball in 2017, but really took a huge leap forward in 2018 when he pitched his way across three levels of the system and spent most of the year in Triple-A at age 20, then made his big league debut in 2019.
Suarez might be under six feet tall and not seem like the most athletic or conditioned pitcher, but he more than handled the increased workload in 2018, topping 100 innings for the first time, and he really knows how to pitch. His low-90s fastball plays up because he commands it so well and has plus life that leads to a lot of groundball outs. His plus changeup has sink also, and he throws it with outstanding deception. His curveball continued to improve and will flash better than average at times.
While he is a strike thrower who is more than happy to get early count outs, he's also shown his ability to miss bats, even at the highest levels of the system. Just 21, he has the chance to settle in as a mid-rotation starter when all is said and done. Statcast - Pitching Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2019 1486 260 23 8.8 87.8 16.0 .274 .478 .394 .356 .399 37.3 19.2 8.8 ALL 1486 260 23 8.8 87.8 16.0 .274 .478 .394 .356 .399 37.3 19.2 8.8 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Rankings Hit By Pitch Year HBP Rank 2019 10 9th in AL Transactions Team Date Transaction 08/23/2019 Los Angeles Angels recalled LHP Jose Suarez from Salt Lake Bees. 08/18/2019 Los Angeles Angels optioned LHP Jose Suarez to Salt Lake Bees. 07/25/2019 Los Angeles Angels recalled Jose Suarez from Salt Lake Bees. 07/15/2019 Los Angeles Angels optioned LHP Jose Suarez to Salt Lake Bees. 07/01/2019 Los Angeles Angels recalled Jose Suarez from Salt Lake Bees. 06/21/2019 Los Angeles Angels optioned LHP Jose Suarez to Salt Lake Bees. 06/09/2019 Los Angeles Angels recalled Jose Suarez from Salt Lake Bees. 06/03/2019 Los Angeles Angels optioned LHP Jose Suarez to Salt Lake Bees. 06/02/2019 Los Angeles Angels recalled Jose Suarez from Salt Lake Bees. 05/05/2019 Salt Lake Bees activated LHP Jose Suarez from the 7-day injured list. 04/04/2019 Salt Lake Bees placed LHP Jose Suarez on the 7-day injured list. 03/10/2019 Los Angeles Angels optioned LHP Jose Suarez to Salt Lake Bees. 11/20/2018 Los Angeles Angels selected the contract of Jose Suarez from Salt Lake Bees. 05/27/2018 LHP Jose Suarez assigned to Salt Lake Bees from Mobile BayBears. 04/18/2018 LHP Jose Suarez assigned to Mobile BayBears from Inland Empire 66ers. 04/02/2018 LHP Jose Suarez assigned to Inland Empire 66ers from Burlington Bees. 08/11/2017 LHP Jose Suarez assigned to Burlington Bees from AZL Angels. 07/19/2017 LHP Jose Suarez assigned to AZL Angels from Burlington Bees. 06/10/2017 LHP Jose Suarez assigned to Burlington Bees from Orem Owlz. 09/03/2016 Jose Suarez assigned to Orem Owlz from AZL Angels. 08/04/2015 LHP Jose Suarez assigned to AZL Angels from DSL Angels. 05/29/2015 LHP Jose Suarez assigned to DSL Angels. 07/03/2014 Los Angeles Angels signed free agent LHP Jose Suarez to a minor league contract.
