Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Albert Suárez has apparently avoided major injury, putting him on track for Opening Day of the 2026 MLB season.
Orioles Reliever Albert Suárez Should Be Ready for Next Opening Day
The 36-year-old received the good news following a second opinion during an exam on his right elbow, according to MASNSports. The injury turned out to be a mild forearm flexor strain instead of a potential UCL situation. He had previously been shut down in September after an appearance against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Suarez appeared in five games this year for Baltimore, throwing 11.2 innings and striking out 10. He walked two batters and surrendered three earned runs on nine hits. In 2024, the veteran made 24 starts with a 9-7 record with a 3.70 ERA.
What Does It Mean For 2026?
The Orioles suffered a litany of injuries to their pitching staff, with over a dozen different players on the injured list throughout the season. Starters Grayson Rodriguez, Zach Eflin, Kyle Bradish, and Tyler Wells were all put on the list at some point. Relievers Félix Bautista and Brandon Young also ended up on the list.
Most of the above players will come back at some point in 2026, and Suárez’s return helps solve some of the problems in the Orioles’ bullpen. There’s a decent chance he could be part of a closer-by-committee to replace Bautista next year.
Suárez had some average statistics but also contributed some positive attributes to the bullpen. The veteran boasted solid hard-hit and barrel numbers, along with an average chase and whiff rate in 2024. Hitters had a .210 expected batting average along with a .328 expected slugging percentage off Suarez in 2025.
Welcome back to the #Orioles, Albert Suárez.
The 35-year-old RHP worked a 1-2-3 8th inning vs. the Padres on 10 pitches (8 strikes).
Suárez also picked up a strikeout by getting Ramón Laureano to swing and miss at this 95.3 mph four-seam fastball: pic.twitter.com/yWKieYKMiv
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) September 3, 2025
He does have issues with inducing ground balls, with only 35% of batted balls falling into that category. Another 35% were flyballs, which can be dangerous against powerful hitters, though only 16% were line drives. His arsenal features a four-seamer, cutter, curveball, changeup, and slurve.
The Orioles may now have some room to shift their offseason focus to starting pitching. They can still look overseas for a potential ace.
Main Photo Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
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