MLB rumors: 5 prospects who can help Angels in 2019
By Sean Sears
2. Jose Suarez, LHP
Twenty-one-year old Jose Suarez isn’t the most athletically gifted pitcher nor does he have a high 90’s fastball, but the lefty knows how to command a strike zone. Suarez struggled in his first two seasons in the Angels minor league system but found success in 2018 advancing from A+ to AA, to finishing the year with the AAA club.
His fastball sits around the low to mid 90’s with a change-up that both sinks and has late movement, creating a deceptive one-two punch for Suarez. He also works in a breaking ball at times that has the potential to be a plus pitch, but it’s the command of his fastball that makes the rest of his pitches so effective.
With the Angels losing pitchers left and right, Suarez is one of the few arms in the minors that’s polished enough for the big leagues. He’s currently in extended Spring Training dealing with a shoulder issue but reports say Suarez is expected to make his Triple-A debut soon after he throws a 60-pitch outing in Arizona.
If Los Angeles does dip into their system for another arm, Suarez not only make sense to step into the role, but he has a real chance to stick with the team should he do well in his MLB audition.