Larry Suarez
| IP | 276 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.217 |
| WHIP | 1.663 |
| BB/9 | 4.761 |
| SO/9 | 8.283 |
- Full name Larry Jose Suarez
- Born 12/20/1989 in Valencia, Venezuela
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 245 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Since he signed for $850,000 as the top Venezuelan amateur in the summer of 2006, Suarez has drawn comparisons to Carlos Zambrano. They're not only from the same nation, but they also have similar builds and strong arms. Suarez first drew notice when he flashed a 91-mph fastball as a 15-year-old, and he worked regularly at 88-92 at age 16. The Cubs admit that Suarez was better prepared to face Rookie-level Dominican Summer League hitters in his pro debut last year, but they brought him to the Arizona League to speed up his learning of English and his adjusting to the United States. He displayed an 89-91 mph fastball early in the summer before running out of gas and pitching with more effort in his delivery in August. He also elevated his heater too often. Suarez did make some progress tightening his curveball and gaining more command of the pitch. His changeup can become a solid third offering if he can consistently throw it with the same arm speed he uses with his fastball. He already carries a lot of weight and must guard against his body getting away from him, though Chicago is encouraged by his work ethic. After rushing Suarez a bit in 2007, the Cubs will keep him in extended spring training to start this season before shipping him to Boise in June. -
In an attempt to beef up their system, the Cubs not only spent heavily on the draft but also made a large investment on the international front in 2006. They landed Suarez, the top pitcher available in Venezuela last summer, for $850,000. He first attracted attention when he touched 91 mph as a 15-year-old, and now he consistently throws his fastball at 88-92 mph. He already shows good command of his fastball and an effective changeup. He doesn't have much of a breaking ball at this point. Because he has a big build and is from Venezuela, he's compared to Carlos Zambrano, though he lacks Zambrano's athleticism. Suarez' weight already is getting away from him a little bit, and he'll have to monitor it carefully. Chicago worked on improving his conditioning during instructional league, but those efforts were hampered when he came down with a minor back strain. He'll likely make his pro debut in the Arizona League in June.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Suarez signed out of Venezuela for $850,000, the second-largest bonus for a pitcher on the international free-agent market in the summer of 2006. The only pitcher to get more was Korean righthander Young-Il Jung, who signed with the Angels for $1 million. Suarez gets compared to Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano because he's a big and burly and from Venezuela. His 6-foot-4, 245-pound frame is softer than Zambrano's, as is his stuff--but not by a whole lot. Suarez was one of the league's harder throwers, regularly peaking at 95 mph with his fastball while sitting at 89-91, though he tends to work up in the strike zone too often. He made significant improvement with his curveball this summer, tightening the pitch and improving his control of it. While he has flashed a solid changeup, he was hit hard by lefthanders (.344) and needs to improve his arm speed on the pitch.
