Ranger Suarez has promising start to his rehab in Reading

After recording the final out of the National League Championship Series, Ranger Suarez is still waiting to make his 2023 season debut. An injury in Spring Training pushed Ranger’s start of the season into May, but he’s on the mend.

Inside the return of Ranger Suarez’

On Thursday night, Ranger Suarez appeared in a rehab appearance for Double-A Reading. Ranger looked good from the get-go. His first pitch was a 94 MPH fastball for a strike.

He immediately showed that he was robbed of a Gold Glove by making a slick play to throw out the Altoona Curve’s leadoff hitter. Ranger’s biggest test of the day was facing the #1 overall pick from 2021, Henry Davis. Ranger won the battle, getting the top catching prospect to strike out looking.

He allowed a single to Domingo Leyba on a fly ball to right field that might’ve had a chance to be caught. Ranger quickly induced a grounder to shortstop to end the inning. He topped out at 95 MPH in the 1st.

Ranger Suarez came back out for the 2nd inning and walked the first batter on a full count. That walk quickly turned into a double play as Ranger got the next hitter to ground to short for the ol’ 6-4-3. He got a weak fly ball to center to end the inning and his day. He topped out at 95 MPH again in the 2nd inning.

In total, Ranger Suarez threw 27 pitches in total, 17 for strikes. He allowed 1 hit, 1 walk, and struck out 1.

Reading manager Al Pedrique was impressed with Suarez saying, “We saw a lot of good things. Number 1, he came out healthy and that’s our main goal. I thought he had good command on his fastball, good life on his fastball. The way the ball came out of his hand was nice and easy.”