Albert Suárez

Albert Joe Suárez Subero Bio

Albert Joe Suárez Subero (born October 8, 1989) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher currently playing in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He has appeared in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants and has also competed professionally in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and in the KBO League with the Samsung Lions. Known for his versatility across multiple international leagues, Suárez has established himself as a reliable starting pitcher throughout his career. He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as an international free agent in 2006 and began his professional career in 2008.

Early Life and Background

Albert Joe Suárez Subero was born on October 8, 1989, in Venezuela. Details about his early childhood, family background, and educational history are not extensively documented in available sources. His passion for baseball developed at a young age, as is common among Venezuelan athletes who grow up in a country with a deep baseball culture. Suárez grew up aspiring to reach professional baseball’s highest levels.

Suárez’s family includes another notable baseball player. His brother, Robert Suárez, also became a professional pitcher and reached Major League Baseball. This family connection to baseball likely influenced Albert’s development and career path in the sport.

Path to Professional Baseball

Suárez signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization as an international free agent on July 2, 2006. This signing represented the first step in his professional journey through baseball’s minor league systems. The Devil Rays organization, now known as the Tampa Bay Rays, developed many international players during this era.

He began his professional career in 2008, playing for the rookie-level Princeton Rays. In his debut season, Suárez appeared in 11 games (nine starts) and posted a 0-2 record with a 3.92 earned run average and 37 strikeouts. The following year, he pitched for the Low-A Hudson Valley Renegades, where he went 1-0 with an impressive 2.79 ERA in two starts. In 2010, Suárez split time between the Gulf Coast League Rays and Single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods, combining for a 2-5 record with a 3.38 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 15 appearances.

Albert Joe Suárez Subero Career

Minor League Development (2008-2015)

Suárez continued his development within the Rays organization through the early 2010s. On November 19, 2010, Tampa Bay added him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, indicating the organization viewed him as a promising prospect. In 2011, he went 1-1 with a 2.15 ERA and 17 strikeouts in eight games between the GCL Rays and High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs.

The 2012 season saw Suárez make 25 starts for Charlotte, compiling a 5-9 record with a 4.08 ERA and 62 strikeouts. He was designated for assignment by the Rays on August 31, 2012, but cleared waivers and remained in the organization. He made two starts for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits in 2013, posting a stellar 1.42 ERA. After electing free agency, he re-signed with Tampa Bay on a new minor league contract.

With Charlotte and Montgomery in 2014, Suárez went a combined 4-6 with a 3.60 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 14 starts. On November 24, 2014, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim that included an invitation to Spring Training.

San Francisco Giants Breakthrough (2016-2017)

On November 18, 2015, Suárez signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants organization. He was assigned to Triple-A Sacramento River Cats to begin the 2016 season. Suárez was 1-2 with a 2.88 ERA in Triple-A when he received his first major league promotion on May 6, 2016.

Suárez made his MLB debut on May 8, 2016, pitching one scoreless inning in relief against the Colorado Rockies. He earned his first major league win on May 11, recording the final out of the 13th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays by inducing a pop out from José Bautista with the bases loaded. Suárez made his first major league start on June 1 against the Atlanta Braves, allowing three runs in five innings while recording his first major league hit and RBI on an infield single.

He finished his rookie season with a 3-5 record and 4.29 ERA in 22 appearances. In 2017, Suárez went 0-3 with a 5.12 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 18 appearances. The Giants non-tendered him on December 1, 2017, making him a free agent, but he re-signed with the team on a minor league contract on December 10.

International Leagues Journey (2018-2023)

On December 14, 2017, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Suárez in the Rule 5 draft. However, Arizona designated him for assignment on March 24, 2018, and he cleared waivers, reporting to Triple-A Reno Aces. He spent the 2018 season in Reno, logging a 4.97 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 63 and one-third innings before electing free agency.

Suárez signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball on December 12, 2018. He made four appearances in his first NPB season, posting a 1.53 ERA with 12 strikeouts. In the 2020 season, he appeared in 12 games and went 4-4 with a 2.67 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 67 and one-third innings. The Swallows won the Japan Series championship in 2021, giving Suárez a notable international title.

On December 7, 2021, Suárez signed with the Samsung Lions of the KBO League. In 2022, he made 30 appearances (29 starts) and registered a 6-8 record with a 2.49 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 173 and two-thirds innings. He re-signed with Samsung on December 7, 2022, for a one-year contract worth $1.3 million. In 2023, he made 19 starts and went 4-7 with a 3.92 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 108 innings. He was released by the Lions on August 10, 2023, after suffering a left calf injury.

Baltimore Orioles Era (2024-Present)

Suárez signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles organization on September 15, 2023. He was assigned to Triple-A Norfolk Tides to begin the 2024 season. On April 17, 2024, the Orioles added him to their major league roster, and he started that day’s game, striking out the first batter he faced in his first MLB appearance since September 26, 2017.

Suárez pitched five and two-thirds shutout innings in his season debut and followed that with another five and two-thirds shutout innings in a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on April 22, earning his first MLB win since June 23, 2016. The 2,860 days between those wins marked the second-longest gap between MLB wins since the 1950s. He went on a streak of three consecutive scoreless starts. Suárez finished the 2024 regular season with a 9-7 record, 3.70 ERA, and 108 strikeouts in a career-high 133 and two-thirds innings pitched.

He made one appearance for Baltimore in 2025 before being placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation on March 30, 2025. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 7 and activated on September 1. Suárez sustained right elbow discomfort during his only start of the season on September 14 and returned to the injured list. He finished the abbreviated 2025 campaign with a 2-0 record and 2.31 ERA in 11 and two-thirds innings over five games. The Orioles non-tendered him on November 21, 2025, making him a free agent.

On December 17, 2025, Suárez re-signed with the Orioles on a minor league contract. He was added to the major league roster on April 1, 2026, after Zach Eflin suffered an elbow injury. Suárez made five appearances and recorded a 1-0 record, 3.46 ERA, and six strikeouts with one save over 13 innings. He was designated for assignment multiple times in late April and May 2026, clearing waivers each time, and eventually re-signed with the Orioles on a major league contract on May 28.

Pitching Style and Strengths

Suárez has established himself as a durable starting pitcher capable of logging significant innings. His career demonstrated his ability to pitch effectively in multiple international leagues, adjusting to different styles of play and competition levels. He has shown the capacity to pitch both as a starter and reliever throughout his career, providing versatility to his teams.

Notable Achievements and Milestones

Suárez’s career includes several notable accomplishments across multiple leagues. His Japan Series championship with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in 2021 represents a significant international achievement. His remarkable 2,860-day gap between MLB wins in 2024 gained attention as one of the longest such stretches in modern baseball history. The 2024 season saw him set a career high with 133 and two-thirds innings pitched while posting a winning record for a contending Orioles team.

Albert Joe Suárez Subero Career Statistics

Suárez has accumulated statistics across four professional leagues throughout his career. His MLB career includes 16 wins against 15 losses with a 3.99 ERA and 230 strikeouts through June 2026. His international performances showcase his adaptability to different baseball environments.

MLB Career Highlights

In Major League Baseball, Suárez has compiled a 16-15 win-loss record with a 3.99 earned run average and 230 strikeouts across his appearances with the Giants and Orioles. His 2024 season with Baltimore represented his most productive MLB campaign, as he earned nine wins and established himself as a reliable rotation piece for a playoff-contending team.

Nippon Professional Baseball and KBO League

In NPB with Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Suárez went 10-8 with a 3.00 ERA and 134 strikeouts. His 2020 season featured a strong 2.67 ERA in 12 appearances. In the KBO League with Samsung Lions, he combined for a 10-15 record with a 3.04 ERA and 247 strikeouts across two seasons. His 2022 season was particularly impressive, as he posted a 2.49 ERA with 159 strikeouts in 173 and two-thirds innings.

Career Statistics Summary

Albert Joe Suárez Subero Family

Family Background and Baseball Lineage

Suárez comes from a baseball family. His brother, Robert Suárez, also became a professional pitcher and reached Major League Baseball. Both brothers have enjoyed successful professional careers spanning multiple international leagues, demonstrating the family’s strong baseball tradition. Robert Suárez has played for multiple MLB teams and has established himself as a reliever in the major leagues.

Personal Life

As a Venezuelan native, Suárez grew up immersed in baseball culture, which contributed to his development as a professional athlete. His international career has taken him across multiple countries and continents, including extended periods in Japan and South Korea while playing professionally abroad. He maintains connections to his home country while pursuing his baseball career in the United States and Asia.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season proved challenging for Suárez due to injury setbacks. He made only one appearance before being placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation on March 30. After spending months on the mend, he was activated from the injured list on September 1 and pitched two shutout innings in an away victory over the San Diego Padres the following day. However, he sustained right elbow discomfort during his sole start of the season on September 14 against the Toronto Blue Jays and returned to the injured list immediately after. Despite the abbreviated campaign, Suárez managed a stellar 2.31 ERA across 11 and two-thirds innings, demonstrating his effectiveness when healthy. The Orioles non-tendered him on November 21, ending his tenure with the organization for the time being. He subsequently re-signed with Baltimore on December 17 on a new minor league contract, keeping his connection to the franchise intact heading into the 2026 season.