Andrew Suarez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #10 prospect in 2018
  Suarez was a reliable member of Miami's weekend rotation for three seasons and has been equally reliable as a pro. He is rarely sensational, but he's also rarely knocked out of a game early. He efficiently works his six to seven innings, keeps his team in the game and does it again five days later. He worked six or more innings 20 times in 2017 en route to a 10-10, 3.30 mark between Double-A and Triple-A. Suarez succeeds as a lefty with plus control and a plus slider. His 90-93 mph fastball sets up his slider as he works it in and out. The slider eats up lefties, and he's equally adept at busting in or backdooring righthanders. He's toyed with a slower curveball as well, but so far it's only a sporadic diversion. He will throw a below-average changeup to keep righthanders honest, but against lefties, he generally sticks to a two-pitch approach. Suarez could help the big league club soon in a variety of ways. He is a nearly ready back-of-the-rotation starter who could eat innings with his control and his slider. He also could become a two-pitch lefty out of the bullpen where his fastball would likely gain a tick. Either way, his big league debut should come in 2018.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #5 prospect in 2017
  Three times Suarez has been selected with a draft pick in the first 10 rounds. He turned down the Blue Jays (ninth round) out of high school and survived shoulder surgery to become a key part of Miami's rotation. The two-time second-round pick spurned the Nationals in 2014 to return to the Hurricanes. The Giants signed him for a touch more than $1 million in 2015. Suarez is yet another creative Giants starter. He mixes his pitches, changes speeds, works in and out, elevates and sinks and manipulates the ball around the strike zone like a veteran. And he does it with legitimate stuff. Suarez pitches with an 89-93 mph fastball that touches 95 with late life. It plays as an above-average pitch because his slinging, low three-quarters arm slot presents a tough angle. His slider is an above-average pitch and his changeup is average. He also uses a fringe-average curveball and cutter. All Suarez's pitches play up because of his plus control (strikes with 70 percent of pitches, according to the Giants) and above-average command, though he would benefit by making hitters chase a pitch more often. Suarez's feel and control are reminiscent of fellow Giants lefthander Ty Blach, but he pitches with firmer stuff. He should slot in as a No. 4 starter and is ready for Triple-A Sacramento in 2017.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #12 prospect in 2016
  Suarez always has been polished. As a high school sophomore at Miami's Columbus High, he already was finding the strike zone with an 89-92 mph fastball while mixing three pitches. Six years later, his scouting report reads much the same. Suarez still baffles hitters with an 89-92 mph fastball and a useful three-pitch mix. In between those two points, he survived 2012 labrum surgery and became the highest drafted collegian to not sign in the 2014 draft when he turned down the Nationals' offer as a secondround pick. After signing with the Giants as a 2015 second-round pick for just over $1 million, Suarez quickly advanced to high Class A San Jose for three regular season starts and two playoff starts. Whereas REAL LIFE STUDIOS scouts who saw Suarez in high school tended to be disappointed that he never gained more velocity, but now they appreciate his polish. His average fastball plays because he locates it to both sides of the plate and keeps it down in the zone. His low-80s slider flashes plus at time, and after going away from his changeup in his junior year at Miami, Suarez effectively incorporated it as a pro, helping to neutralize righthanded batters. His delivery is fluid, which allows him to repeat his release point consistently and explains his above-average control. Suarez projects as a fast-moving, back-of-the-rotation starter who could be ready for Double-A Richmond at some point in 2016.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #73 prospect in 2015 draft
  Suarez has helped lead Miami to its best season since 2008, and in the process he has helped his draft stock significantly by remaining healthy. He was a high-profile recruit for the Hurricanes who was an unsigned Blue Jays ninth-round pick in 2011. He missed most of his freshman year with a shoulder injury that required labrum surgery but has pitched more than 170 innings since, flashing above-average stuff while regularly pitching with above-average control. Suarez's fastball was up to 95 mph last fall, with a commensurate jump in slider velocity to the low- to mid-80s. He hasn't maintained that power pitching every weekend this spring, pitching with average fastball velocity more regularly at 88-91 while flashing plus with the slider, topping out at 83. He has a good feel for the changeup and has pounded the strike zone all spring. If Suarez can regain his fall power while still throwing boatloads of strikes, he has a mid-rotation ceiling. As he is now, he offers a polished strike thrower with a back-of-the-rotation profile.
• Ranked #75 prospect in 2014 draft
  Suarez has helped lead Miami to its best season since 2008, and in the process he has helped his draft stock significantly by remaining healthy. He was a high-profile recruit for the Hurricanes who was an unsigned Blue Jays ninth-round pick in 2011. He missed most of his freshman year with a shoulder injury that required labrum surgery but has pitched more than 170 innings since, flashing above-average stuff while regularly pitching with above-average control. Suarez's fastball was up to 95 mph last fall, with a commensurate jump in slider velocity to the low- to mid-80s. He hasn't maintained that power pitching every weekend this spring, pitching with average fastball velocity more regularly at 88-91 while flashing plus with the slider, topping out at 83. He has a good feel for the changeup and has pounded the strike zone all spring. If Suarez can regain his fall power while still throwing boatloads of strikes, he has a mid-rotation ceiling. As he is now, he offers a polished strike thrower with a back-of-the-rotation profile.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Suarez was selected three times with a draft pick in the first 10 rounds. He turned down the Blue Jays (ninth round) out of high school. The two-time second-round pick spurned the Nationals in 2014 to return to the Hurricanes. The Giants signed him for a touch more than $1 million in 2015. Scouting Report: Suarez is yet another creative Giants starter. He mixes his pitches, changes speeds, works in and out, elevates and sinks and manipulates the ball around the strike zone like a veteran. And he does it with legitimate stuff. Suarez pitches with an 89-93 mph fastball that touches 95 with late life. It plays as an above-average pitch because his slinging, low three-quarters arm slot presents a tough angle. His slider is an above-average pitch and his changeup is average. He also uses a fringe-average curveball and cutter. All Suarez's pitches play up because of his plus control (strikes with 70 percent of pitches, according to the Giants) and above-average command, though he would benefit by making hitters chase a pitch more often.
  
  The Future: Suarez's feel and control are reminiscent of fellow Giants lefthander Ty Blach, but he pitches with firmer stuff. He should slot in as a No. 4 starter and is ready for Triple-A Sacramento in 2017.