Jose Suarez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #4 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Suarez has such an advanced feel for pitching and knack for missing bats that he jumped from high Class A to Triple-A within the first two months of 2018 at age 20. Originally signed for $300,000 as a 16-year-old, Suarez improved his strikeout rate from 10.7 batters per nine innings in 2016 to 11.8 in 2017. He maintained a high rate (10.9) in 2018 despite spending most of the season at Triple-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Suarez is slightly plump and hardly imposing, but his stuff is real. His fastball averages 92 mph and touches 95 with a late armside movement. His best pitch is a plus 81 mph changeup he throws with deception and sinking action, and his mid-70s curveball is an above-average swing-and-miss pitch when he lands it, though he's still learning to command it. Suarez works fast with an easy, repeatable high-three quarters delivery with good direction to the plate that yields above-average control.
  
  The Future: Suarez is advanced for his age and proved durable under a 117-inning workload as a 20-year-old. He has put himself in consideration for the Angels' rotation in 2019 and will enter spring training with the chance to show he deserves a shot.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #13 prospect in 2018
  Signed as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela for $300,000 in 2014, Suarez is still undersized but has an advanced feel for pitching. Suarez's fastball velocity ticked up to 89-93 mph in 2017, he has an above-average changeup, and he's developing a curveball as a quality third pitch. The results can be seen in his strikeout rates, which have increased from 5.7 batters per nine innings in 2015 to 10.7 in 2016 to 11.8 in 2017, when he combined to go 6-1, 3.28 in 15 starts in the AZL and low Class A Burlington, striking out 90 and walking 22 in 68.2 innings. Suarez doesn't make many mistakes, having allowed only nine homers in 186 minor league innings. He has above-average pitchability and an easy, repeatable high-three quarters delivery with good direction to the plate. He should add velocity as he develops physically, but his changeup, which he can throw in any count, is his best pitch. With advanced pitching smarts and above-average control, Suarez could reach high Class A and perhaps Double-A in 2018 at age 20.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #15 prospect in 2017
  The Angels signed Suarez as a 16-year old out of Venezuela for $300,000 in 2014, and the southpaw quickly impressed when showed up in instructional league that fall with an already advanced feel for pitching. He began his second pro season in the Arizona League before joining Rookie-level Orem to aid their postseason run to the Pioneer League championship in 2016. He started the title-clinching game against Billings, pitching five innings and giving up only two hits and one run. Suarez has above-average pitchability and uses an easy, repeatable high-three-quarters delivery with good direction to the plate. His changeup is a potential plus pitch he can throw in any count, and he mixes it well with his 88-92 mph fastball that projects to average as he develops more physically. He is still developing his below-average breaking ball but still significantly increased his strikeout rate, fanning 10.7 batters per nine innings in 2016 compared to 6.1 in 2015. With advanced pitching smarts and above-average control, Suarez may be able to head to low Class A in 2017 at age 19.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #23 prospect in 2016
  Suarez, who signed with the Angels in 2014 for a $300,000 bonus, jumped on the prospect radar at 16 during his first instructional league competition, when he impressed scouts with a smooth, simple delivery and advanced pitchability that belied his age. Rather than returning the 17-year-old southpaw to the U.S. in 2015, the Angels instead decided to let the Suarez start his pro career in the Dominican Summer League, where he posted a 2.13 ERA and 34-8 K-BB rate over 11 starts. He finished the summer with four outings in the Rookie-level Arizona League before another productive instructional league stint. Suarez is noted for his ability to throw all of his pitches for strikes. His fastball sits 87-89 mph, and while his short, compact body type isn't projectable, he may add velocity with a long-toss program. Suarez has good feel for a changeup that he can throw in any count--it ranks as his best pitch--and he has a mid-70s curveball with snap. Suarez repeats his high three-quarters delivery, gets plenty of groundballs and shows an advanced ability to control the running game. He will likely return to the Arizona League in 2016, but his pitching smarts may instead earn him a bump to Rookie-level Orem.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #20 prospect in 2015
  The buzz on Suarez began early in 2014 instructional league. Suarez was an unheralded signing earlier in the year for $300,000, and he impressed observers with his smooth delivery, competitive nature and advanced pitchability for a teenager. His general feel for his craft is impressive. He probably won't develop better than average velocity, and he pitches at 88 mph now. Already physically mature with a solid core, Suarez might add a tick to his heater as he grows taller. He gets decent plane from his high-three-quarters delivery with all of his pitches coming from the same slot. His average changeup is his best pitch, and a 74-77 mph curveball with snap has improved since signing. He already shows above-average control of the running game. Suarez's ordinary stuff and feel for the strike zone has earned him comparisons with Royals lefthander Jason Vargas. He will make his pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2015.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #15 prospect in 2018
  Suarez was one of the breakout prospects of the year, rising from high Class A all the way to Triple-A as a 20-year-old. After understandable early struggles adjusting to Triple-A and the elevation of Salt Lake, Suarez clicked late and posted a 2.70 ERA in his final six starts. Suarez works with an incredibly fast tempo to keeps hitters on the defensive. He has advanced command of his 91-94 mph fastball, and it plays up with late tailing movement. His low 80s changeup is a plus swing and miss offering at its best and his mid-70s curveball is an average or better pitch when he lands it in the zone. He mixes them all with a mature feel to pitch and controls the run game with a good pickoff move. Suarez commands his fastball but struggles to command his secondaries, which led to an elevated walk rate in Triple-A (4.0 BB/9). His curveball and chanegup were balls right out of his hand at times, allowing batters to sit fastball. Gaining command of those secondaries will be key for Suarez to reach his rotation potential. He’s already very advanced and has time to figure it out.

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  What the 5-foot-10 Suarez lacks in size, he makes up for with stuff and an advanced feel for pitching. He mixes a fastball that averages 92.4 mph and touches 95 with a plus low-80s changeup he throws with deception and sinking action and an improving 76-mph curveball. He increased his strikeout rate from 10.7 batters per nine innings in 2016 to 11.8 in 2017 to 12.1 this season, and he shot up to Triple-A after just nine starts. He’s now working on throwing all three of his pitches in the different quadrants of the zone.