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‘He’s got ice in his veins’: Phillies react to Ranger Suárez becoming playoff hero

Ranger Suarez has become an integral member of the Phillies. (Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire)

Not every team has a Ranger Suárez.

Not every World Series team has a Ranger Suárez.

But the Philadelphia Phillies reached the playoffs in part because Suárez posted a 3.65 ERA across 155 1/3 innings, developing into a pretty effective No. 3 starter behind the one-two punch of Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler.

They were able to clinch the National League pennant last Sunday because Suárez — two days after throwing five innings in a start — inherited a rather tumultuous situation from David Robertson, only to close out the final game of the NLCS, stranding runners on second and third base.

And Rob Thomson’s job of managing the bullpen in a Game 1 World Series victory over the Houston Astros looks so masterful in part because Suárez recorded two outs in relief.

After striking out arguably the best left-handed hitter in the sport currently in the form of Yordan Álvarez to finish off the seventh inning, Suárez retired former American League MVP runner-up Alex Bregman to begin the bottom of the eighth inning.

The nonchalant manner that Suárez fielded the ball in reminded many of Cliff Lee in Game 1 of the 2009 World Series:

All of this comes on the heels of an incredible breakout campaign in 2021, which saw Suárez post a 1.36 ERA and 2.72 FIP across 106 innings, working as a long man, late-inning reliever and starting pitcher.

Just how rare is it to have a pitcher that can change roles, even on the biggest stages, and seem unphased by it all? Phillies Nation asked his manager and some teammates about Suárez becoming an unlikely playoff hero.

Rob Thomson, Manager

“Yeah, you don’t see those guys too often. He just, it’s like he’s playing in his backyard. He’s playing whiffle ball. And he’s just having fun out there. The situation, the role, doesn’t matter to him he’s just going to go out and do his thing and pitch.”

Alec Bohm, Third Baseman

“That’s Ranger. You know, pretty impressive to be able to go from starting, to coming out of the bullpen, to go and start and do all that. I think it just kind of goes to show his, where his heartbeat’s at, right? To him he’s just grabbing a ball, stepping on the mound, and throwing it”

J.T. Realmuto, Catcher

“I just think no moment’s too big for him. Every time he gets the ball he’s just pitching. He’s playing baseball, he’s having fun. It doesn’t matter what role he’s in. He’s been successful for us wherever we’ve thrown him. He’s a guy that when he’s coming into the game the whole team has confidence that that moment’s not going to be too big for him.”

David Robertson, Reliever

“Yeah, I’m not worried about Ranger at all. That guy can pitch. He can flat-out pitch.”

Zach Eflin, Reliever

“Yeah, he’s got ice in his veins, man. You can’t teach that. It doesn’t matter how many pitching coaches you go to, how many pitching gurus you go to, you can’t teach that. And we’re thrilled to have him on the squad. He’s a huge part of this team.”