Cardinals call up former SF Giants southpaw, second-round pick

After two years pitching in Asia, former SF Giants pitcher Andrew Suárez is back in the big leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The St. Louis Cardinals recalled 30-year-old left-handed pitcher Andrew Suárez from Triple-A Memphis on Monday in a series of moves that involved activating veteran starter Adam Wainwright. Suárez was drafted by the SF Giants in the second round of the 2015 MLB draft and appeared in the majors with the team from 2018-2020. After he appeared in just six games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Giants sold his rights to the Twins. The LG Twins of the Korean Baseball Organization. 

SF Giants LHP Andrew Suárez throws a pitch against the Dodgers. (2018) / Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Suárez reached the majors as a 25-year-old in 2018, going 7-13 in 29 starts, with a 4.49 ERA. While his walk rate was excellent (2.5 BB/9), he didn't strike out a lot of hitters, whiffing just 130 in 160.1 innings. He also gave up 23 home runs.

When Farhan Zaidi took over that winter, Suárez lost his place in the rotation and the major league roster. Prospects like Shaun Anderson and Tyler Beede passed him up, new acquisition Drew Pomeranz started ahead of him, and a guy named Logan Webb showed up in August. 

Suárez made just two starts, both in May, where he gave up 12 runs in ten innings, along with three home runs and seven walks. He pitched only 22.2 more innings in 19 appearances out of the bullpen, where he was a little more effective, with a 4.37 ERA. After spending all but six games at the alternate site in 2020, it was in the Giants' and Suarez's interests to get a fresh start.

He went 10-2 with a 2.18 ERA in the KBO, striking out more than a batter per inning and giving up only four home runs all season. Invigorated, he signed with the Yakult Swallows for 2022 but made only six appearances and finished with a 6.23 ERA.

Suárez returned to the United States on a minor league deal with the Cardinals this offseason, and pitched well in Triple-A. He got his strikeout rate up to 24.5% and he continues his low walk rate.

While he's mostly worked as a reliever, the Cardinals' dismal season may be an opportunity. General manager John Mozeliak admitted the Cardinals would be making moves focused on 2024, a clear sign that potential free agent pitchers like Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty, and even the Giants' old friend Chris Stratton are likely to get traded.

That could open a rotation spot for Suárez, who made his first starts of the season in his last three appearances, going five innings on Thursday. He'll at least get opportunities in long relief, but Suarez could be a starter the rest of the season in St. Louis.

And he'll be excited to learn that since MLB adopted the universal designated hitter last year, he won't have to embarrass himself at the plate like he did with the SF Giants.

When Giants pitcher Andrew Suarez stepped to the plate in his debut in 2018, he hadn’t hit in a game since middle school. He looked like this. If we’re not preparing them to hit, and they’re worse than ever, they shouldn’t hit. pic.twitter.com/pX537WA8wY

— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) June 18, 2020