José Suárez Bio
José Rances Suárez Quintero (born January 3, 1998) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is currently with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously pitched in the major leagues for the Los Angeles Angels. A left-handed pitcher, Suárez has spent his career working primarily as a starter while also handling relief appearances when called upon.
A native of Naguanagua, Venezuela, Suárez signed with the Angels as an international free agent at the age of 16 in 2014. After five seasons developing in the Angels’ minor league system, he reached the majors in 2019. Over the following years he logged full seasons of work in the Angels’ rotation, posted his first career complete game in 2021, and surpassed 100 innings pitched for the first time in 2022.
Early Life and Background
José Rances Suárez Quintero was born on January 3, 1998, in Naguanagua, a city in Carabobo State, Venezuela. Growing up in a country with a deep baseball tradition, Suárez was exposed to the sport at an early age through local play and youth competition. Venezuela has produced a long line of major league pitchers, and Suárez emerged from that environment as a promising left-handed prospect.
By his mid-teens, Suárez had drawn the attention of international scouts evaluating young Latin American arms. At 16 years old, he signed with the Los Angeles Angels as an international free agent on July 3, 2014, beginning his professional career. The signing represented the first major step in his path from a Venezuelan amateur to a professional pitcher in the United States.
Path to Major League Baseball
After signing with the Angels in 2014, Suárez began his professional development in 2015 with the Dominican Summer League Angels and the Arizona League Angels. Across 15 games, including 13 starts, he posted a combined 3-3 record and a 2.97 ERA, an encouraging start for a 17-year-old adjusting to professional baseball in the United States and the Dominican Republic.
In 2016, Suárez pitched for the Arizona League Angels and the Orem Owlz, going 1-4 with a 4.84 ERA in 12 games and six starts. He returned to form in 2017, splitting the year between the Arizona League Angels and the Burlington Bees and finishing with a combined 6-1 record and a 3.28 ERA in 15 starts. The Angels promoted him through three levels in 2018, moving him from the Inland Empire 66ers to the Mobile BayBears and then the Salt Lake Bees, where he logged a 3-6 record and a 3.92 ERA across 26 starts.
Following the 2018 season, the Angels added Suárez to their 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft. He opened 2019 on the injured list with shoulder soreness and was sent back to Salt Lake upon his return, setting the stage for his first major league call-up later that year.
José Suárez Career
Early Career (2015-2018)
Suárez spent his first four professional seasons climbing the Angels’ minor league ladder. His 2015 debut season showed control and poise beyond his years, and his strong 2017 campaign at the Burlington Bees confirmed his progress. The Angels’ decision to move him across three affiliates in 2018 reflected both his workload capacity and the organization’s belief in his ceiling as a starting pitcher.
By the end of 2018, Suárez had established himself as one of the more advanced left-handed arms in the Angels’ system. His cumulative minor league résumé, including a full season across A, High-A, and Triple-A, led directly to a 40-man roster spot and positioned him for a major league opportunity in 2019.
Los Angeles Angels Debut (2019-2020)
Suárez made his MLB debut on June 2, 2019, starting against the Seattle Mariners and picking up his first major league win. The start was the culmination of a five-year development path that began with his 2014 signing. He finished his rookie season with a 7.11 ERA across 81 innings, a difficult but formative introduction to the majors in which he allowed 23 home runs.
The 2020 season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, proved even more challenging. Suárez recorded a 38.57 ERA after two starts covering just 2 1/3 innings before being optioned off the roster. Despite the small sample size, the year offered valuable lessons as he adjusted to life on the shuttle between Salt Lake and Anaheim.
Establishment in the Angels’ Rotation (2021-2022)
Suárez opened 2021 in the bullpen before settling back into the rotation. On May 10, 2021, he made his first appearance of the season against the Houston Astros, pitching four innings and allowing one run. He was the starting pitcher in the 2021 MLB Little League Classic, giving up three runs and striking out four across four innings in a 3-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians. The defining moment of his season came on September 4, 2021, against the Texas Rangers, when he threw his first career complete game, allowing one run and striking out eight batters. He finished 2021 with an 8-8 record and a 3.96 ERA in 98 1/3 innings.
In 2022, Suárez took a clear step forward, making 22 appearances with 20 starts and logging an 8-8 record with a 3.96 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 109 innings. The season marked his second consecutive year at 8-8 with an ERA under 4.00 and set new career highs in both strikeouts and innings pitched, signaling his emergence as a reliable rotation piece for the Angels.
Injury Setback and Return (2023)
Suárez began the 2023 season out of the Angels’ rotation and struggled to a 7.89 ERA across his first five starts. On May 7, 2023, against the Texas Rangers, he departed after 2 2/3 innings with an apparent injury. An MRI revealed a left shoulder strain, and he was placed on the injured list the following day before being transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 23. Suárez was activated from the injured list on September 11, 2023, ending a long recovery period.
Final Angels Season and Atlanta Braves Era (2024-2025)
In 2024, Suárez made 18 appearances for the Angels but struggled to an 8.15 ERA with 37 strikeouts across 35 1/3 innings. On June 17, 2024, the Angels designated him for assignment. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Salt Lake on June 24 before being selected back to the active roster on September 9, 2024.
On March 23, 2025, Suárez was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Ian Anderson. He made three appearances for the Braves and posted a 2.45 ERA with five strikeouts across 7 1/3 innings before being designated for assignment on April 21, following Atlanta’s acquisition of Scott Blewett. Suárez cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers on April 24. On September 16, the Braves selected his contract, adding him back to their active roster for the final stretch of the season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Suárez’s first career complete game on September 4, 2021, against the Texas Rangers stands as his signature major league milestone. The performance, in which he allowed one run and struck out eight, marked his arrival as a pitcher capable of working deep into games. Surpassing 100 innings in 2022 also represented a significant workload threshold for a pitcher who had struggled to stay healthy early in his career.
José Suárez Family
Personal Life
José Rances Suárez Quintero was raised in Naguanagua, Venezuela, and remains closely tied to his Venezuelan roots. Public details about his immediate family, marital status, and children are not widely documented in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Suárez’s 2025 season has been defined by a midseason move between organizations. After beginning spring training with the Angels, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves on March 23, 2025, and opened the year in Atlanta’s bullpen. He recorded a 2.45 ERA with five strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings across three appearances before being designated for assignment on April 21, following the Braves’ acquisition of Scott Blewett.
After clearing waivers, Suárez was sent outright to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers on April 24, 2025, allowing him to remain in the Atlanta organization. The Braves selected his contract on September 16, 2025, returning him to the major league roster for the final weeks of the season.
Looking ahead, Suárez is positioned as a depth option for the Braves’ pitching staff heading into the offseason, with his October return providing an opportunity to rebuild momentum. His ability to bounce back between the majors and Triple-A underscores his role as a versatile left-handed arm capable of filling rotation or relief needs.