Suárez arrives at camp with visa issues behind him

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Ranger Suárez spent 10 days or so in Colombia, waiting to get his work visa renewed so he could travel to the United States to begin the most important spring of his Phillies career.

Because of tense relations between the United States and Venezuela, Venezuelans can only renew their work visas in places like Colombia and Mexico. So Suárez flew from Venezuela to Panama to Colombia to make it happen. (Venezuela’s relationship with Colombia is also frayed, which is why Suárez could not travel there directly.) But with everything finally resolved this week, Suárez got into a Phillies uniform for the first time this spring on Thursday at BayCare Ballpark. He is behind schedule, but he will throw a bullpen session on Friday.

Suárez said he believes he will be ready to pitch the first week of the season.

“Oh yeah, for sure,” he said through an interpreter on Thursday morning. “I think so.”

Suárez, 26, had a remarkable 2021. He went 8-5 with a 1.36 ERA in 106 innings. He started the season in the bullpen, then became the closer before the Phillies moved him into the rotation. Suárez became one of only six pitchers in the past 100 years, including in the Negro Leagues, to pitch 100 or more innings in a season and post a 1.36 ERA or better. Bob Gibson (1.12 ERA in 1968), Slim Jones (1.24 ERA in 1934), Red Munger (1.34 ERA in 1944) and Suárez are the only pitchers in that group to start at least one game.

The Phillies expect Suárez to be a reliable cog in a rotation that they believe to be their strength.

“I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity for years,” Suárez said. “Hopefully things happen and I’m able to be a big league starter this season. … I know last season was really good for me. That was great, but that was last season. I have to focus on now, this season, so I hope everything goes well and I stay healthy.”

Suárez’s ability to pitch the first week of the season would go a long way for the Phillies. Because while Aaron Nola, Zach Eflin and Kyle Gibson appear to be on schedule, Zack Wheeler is behind because he has the flu. He threw off a mound for the first time earlier this week.

The Phillies have not said when Wheeler will be back in camp.

“Hopefully he can catch up quick,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said about Suárez.

Knebel impresses in first showing
Phillies closer Corey Knebel impressed in a live batting practice Thursday morning.

“His fastball had life, his curveball had great depth to it,” Girardi said. “That’s the guy I remember.”

“It was coming out hot,” J.T. Realmuto said. “The fastball had some life to it. The breaking ball is sharp. He had some deception where he throws [his fastball] up so much that he froze two or three guys with fastballs down in the zone, which is really good for him. He’s pitching up in the zone 90 percent of the time, then he’ll sneak one down and it looks like a ball out of the hand and he gets a lot of called third strikes.”

Don’t forget about Camargo
The Phillies signed infielder Johan Camargo to a one-year contract hours before the lockout in December. He could play an important role this season.

“We’re going to move him all around,” Girardi said.

Camargo put up solid numbers in his second season with the Braves in 2018, batting .272 with 19 home runs, 76 RBIs and an .806 OPS in 524 plate appearances. He played mostly third base, but he lost his job when Atlanta signed Josh Donaldson. Camargo had a .622 OPS in 393 plate appearances over the past three seasons in the big leagues. However, he spent most of 2021 with Triple-A Gwinnett, with which he posted a .958 OPS.

“I thought he had a chance to be an everyday player,” Girardi said. “I think there’s a lot of talent there and he can be really helpful.”

Extra bases
• Rhys Hoskins had surgery late last season to repair a tear in his lower abdomen, but he is healthy and working this spring without restrictions. “I came here basically doing everything training-wise,” he said. “I think the last thing to do is do it in a game.”

• Alec Bohm is the only projected Opening Day starter scheduled to be in the Phillies’ lineup for Friday afternoon’s Grapefruit League opener against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. More regulars are expected to start on Saturday afternoon in the home opener against the Blue Jays. Both games will be broadcast on MLB.TV and MLB Audio.