Ranger Suarez was probably the Phillies most successful pitcher in 2021 behind Zack Wheeler. Suarez began the year as a bullpen piece, then progressed to the starting rotation as he was pitching well and an opportunity opened. It was Ranger’s first season experiencing the success he did, as he took steps to massively improve his game. He’s been signed in Philadelphia since he was 16 years old, but he just broke out as a hot item now. If there were a “Most Improved Player” award in the MLB, it likely would’ve been won by Ranger this year.
It’s difficult to compare this season to Ranger’s previous ones as he’s a young player with a limited sample size. In his last season of significant use, 2019, Suarez pitched to a 3.14 ERA – a respectable number for a bullpen arm, but he dipped in limited use in 2020.
Suarez delivered the best of his few seasons thus far in 2021, posting career numbers in nearly every statistical category including ERA, strikeouts, innings pitched, and WAR. The standouts are his dominant ERA of only 1.36, with over 100IP, and a remarkable WAR of 5.9. For comparison, that’s the second lowest ERA a pitcher has had with over 100IP since 1969. For a large portion of the early season, his ERA remained under 1. He delivered eight wins and four saves for the Phillies in total. Ranger’s stuff isn’t overpowering, with an average fastball velocity of 94MPH, but he’s accurate, throws with precision, and changes speeds utilizing a slider and changeup. His success resulted in a hefty workload, pitching in every imaginable situation over the course nearly 40 ballgames. It speaks to his versatility as an arm, and the get-it-done mentality he’s been praised for. He kept coming through when his number was called, so the Phillies decided to employ him in the lengthened starter’s role. Ranger delivered two memorable starts – one was the Saturday night win at home over the Mets in an August first-place matchup that he put together, the other being his masterpiece, a complete game shutout of the Pirates in late September.
Suarez entered 2021 as a hopeful bullpen piece and he leaves it a bonafide starter of the league, and one of the Phillies best. The Phillies organization looks forward to many years of reliable production from an up-and-coming talent like Suarez.
I don’t know a thing about baseball, but I think by following a blog like this, I could easily learn a little more about different players within the Phillies and their merits and flaws. You concisely outlined what exactly it is that Ranger does well, and how he is an asset to the team. I wish knew what terms like “ERA,” “IP,” and “WAR” meant so that I could leave a more insightful comment, but I think your usage of them just goes to show how knowledgeable on the subject you are. I don’t know when baseball season starts again, but when it does and the Phillies are playing, at least I will now know the name and talents of one player.