Santiago Suarez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #7 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/High.
  
  Track Record: The Marlins astutely signed Suarez as a slightly-older 17-year-old out of Venezuela in 2022. He quickly caught the Rays’ eye in the Dominican Summer League that year. When Tampa Bay traded reliever JT Chargois and shortstop Xavier Edwards to the Marlins to clear 40-man roster space in November 2022, they asked for Suarez and Marcus Johnson in return. The Marlins have already gotten production from Edwards, but Suarez could lead to a long-term payoff for the Rays. Suarez is a well-built, stocky righthander who has the body to eat innings. Including his playoff start, Suarez’s 116.2 innings were the most by any teenage pitcher in 2024.
  
  Scouting Report: Suarez’s double-plus control is exceptional. His season high in walks was three, and he walked two or more four times in 23 starts for Low-A Charleston. In comparison, he walked no one eight times. Suarez’s 69% strike percentage was third-best among minor league pitchers with at least 100 innings. Because of his pitch efficiency, he worked deeper into games than almost any teenager, throwing five or more innings in 17 of 23 starts. Suarez touched 94 mph when he signed with the Marlins. Now he sits 94-95 and touches 97-98. His plus four-seam fastball has above-average carry at the top of the zone with a flat plane to miss bats. He mixes an average low-80s curveball and an above-average upper-80s cutter, both of which are most notable for his ability to locate them. He also had a hard, low-90s split-changeup that is fringe-average.
  
  The Future: Suarez’s exceptional control and steadily-improving velocity combined with enviable durability gives him a clear path to being a mid-rotation starter. He’s ready for High-A Bowling Green, where he should be part of a talented young rotation.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 60. | Control: 70.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 60 | Control: 70.
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #13 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Much like his Florida Complex League teammate Jose Urbina in 2023, Suarez is a relatively polished Venezuelan righthander who has made massive gains in the past couple of years. Suarez was originally a scouting success story for the Marlins. Miami signed him just before the 2022 Dominican Summer League season. After a solid stint in the DSL, he was traded to the Rays with Marcus Johnson for Xavier Edwards and J.T. Chargois.
  
  Scouting Report: Suarez was one of the best pitchers in the Florida Complex League in his Rays debut and made a start in the playoffs for Low-A Charleston. He simply overwhelmed hitters by rarely falling behind. He threw his above-average 93-94 mph fastball for strikes an absurd 75% of the time. Suarez’s fastball has a tick above-average carry and he elevates it well. His 77-79 mph downer curveball is a plus pitch. Suarez didn’t seem as confident in his nascent changeup this year as he was in 2022. It needs to develop significantly if he’s going to be a starter.
  
  The Future: Suarez is one of the most promising and most polished young pitchers in the Rays’ system. He’ll need to add a third pitch eventually, but his plus control and ability to spin a breaking ball gives him a great foundation.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 60
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #17 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Suarez was a bit of a late-bloomer. The Marlins are one of the more patient teams on the international amateur market, so when Suarez showed quality stuff as a 17-year-old, they were well positioned to sign him for $385,000. He made his pro debut just 10 days after he signed and quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the Dominican Summer League. The Rays acquired him as part of a four-player deal that sent Xavier Edwards and J.T. Chargois to the Marlins.
  
  Scouting Report: Suarez is an extremely well-rounded pitching prospect with a chance to have three average or better pitches and above-average control and command. Suarez's maturity, clean arm action and athleticism make it easy for scouts to see him developing as a starting pitcher. He already shows feel for getting ahead of hitters thanks to his ability to land his curveball for strikes and he has a 92-95 mph fastball with the ride to work up in the zone. His changeup is less developed, but has enough promise to project as a future average pitch.
  
  The Future: As soon as he became a Ray, Suarez became one of the team's best young pitching prospects. It's reasonable to expect him to make further velocity gains as he matures. He projects as a solid No. 4 starting pitcher.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 60.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Suarez was a bit of a late-bloomer. The Marlins are one of the more patient teams on the international amateur market, so when Suarez showed quality stuff as a 17-year-old, they were well positioned to sign him for $385,000. He made his pro debut just 10 days after he signed and quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the Dominican Summer League. The Rays acquired him as part of a four-player deal that sent Xavier Edwards and J.T. Chargois to the Marlins.
  
  Scouting Report: Suarez is an extremely well-rounded pitching prospect with a chance to have three average or better pitches and above-average control and command. Suarez's maturity, clean arm action and athleticism make it easy for scouts to see him developing as a starting pitcher. He already shows feel for getting ahead of hitters thanks to his ability to land his curveball for strikes and he has a 92-95 mph fastball with the ride to work up in the zone. His changeup is less developed, but has enough promise to project as a future average pitch.
  
  The Future: As soon as he became a Ray, Suarez became one of the team's best young pitching prospects. It's reasonable to expect him to make further velocity gains as he matures. He projects as a solid No. 4 starting pitcher.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 60.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Suarez was a bit of a late-bloomer. The Marlins are one of the more patient teams on the international amateur market, so when Suarez showed quality stuff as a 17-year-old, they were well positioned to sign him for $385,000. He made his pro debut just 10 days after he signed and quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the Dominican Summer League. The Rays acquired him as part of a four-player deal that sent Xavier Edwards and J.T. Chargois to the Marlins.
  
  Scouting Report: Suarez is an extremely well-rounded pitching prospect with a chance to have three average or better pitches and above-average control and command. Suarez's maturity, clean arm action and athleticism make it easy for scouts to see him developing as a starting pitcher. He already shows feel for getting ahead of hitters thanks to his ability to land his curveball for strikes and he has a 92-95 mph fastball with the ride to work up in the zone. His changeup is less developed, but has enough promise to project as a future average pitch.
  
  The Future: As soon as he became a Ray, Suarez became one of the team's best young pitching prospects. It's reasonable to expect him to make further velocity gains as he matures. He projects as a solid No. 4 starting pitcher.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 60.