Spring Training can often feel like a baseball version of Groundhog Day—will a player’s early promise in sunny Arizona or Florida signal future success, or is it just a mirage? For the San Diego Padres’ closer, Robert Suarez, the early forecasts have been clouded at best.
Across five Cactus League appearances, Suarez has recorded a bloated 19.64 ERA over 3 2/3 innings, with a mere four strikeouts to offset his woes. His latest outing against the Colorado Rockies was particularly rocky; Suarez faced just seven batters, surrendering four earned runs on five hits and a walk in just a third of an inning.
Early in the Spring, Suarez gave reason for cautious optimism, striking out two while allowing just one hit in his debut against the Athletics. Yet, the promise was short-lived as he faltered against the Kansas City Royals, giving up four earned runs in only a third of an inning, plagued by errant control and three walks.
Interestingly, there have been signs of a turnaround before his recent troubles resurfaced against the Rockies. He managed scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians and again versus Colorado, featuring two strikeouts.
The wrinkle in Suarez’s Spring tale is his endeavor to expand his arsenal. He’s reportedly working on integrating new pitches alongside his potent fastball, a process naturally accompanied by growing pains.
In fact, there’s buzz around Suarez potentially unveiling a new pitch – a Gyro Slider, boasting significant vertical movement. Such tweaks, albeit exciting, are contributing to some of his erratic performances as he attempts to finetune this addition to his repertoire.
Reflecting on Suarez’s 2024 season provides some perspective. It was indeed a tale of two halves.
He burst out of the gate with dominance, impressing enough to earn an All-Star nod. Through the opening months, he dazzled with 20 saves and 30 strikeouts, holding opponents to a handful of runs in 33 innings.
Yet, as the season waned, so did Suarez’s effectiveness. From July through September, batters began to barrel him up more frequently, as evidenced by 16 earned runs across 32 innings; home runs and walks became more frequent adversaries.
Despite the dip in form during the regular season’s twilight, Suarez redeemed himself in the postseason. Over three appearances, he kept bats almost entirely silent, securing two saves and allowing only a single hit in 3 1/3 innings. It was a reminder of his capability to anchor the bullpen when the stakes are at their highest.
As the Padres look to 2025, the heightened expectations include Suarez stabilizing his outings once the final Spring Training tune-ups are complete. Even with the presence of strong arms like Jason Adam and Jeremiah Estrada waiting in the wings, San Diego’s faith in Suarez’s closing abilities is evident. Yet, it’s clear the time for experimentation ends come Opening Day, as consistency will be paramount if Suarez is to cement himself as the linchpin of the Padres’ bullpen strategy.
