PHILADELPHIA — As the lights dimmed in the press room after an emotional season, Ranger Suárez sat alone, looking out at Citizens Bank Park — where his journey as the Philadelphia Phillies’ “lead dancer” began and could end. Now, as he thanked the fans and recounted his journey from unpopular player to icon of resilience, one thing was clear: for Suárez, it was all about the love of the red and white.
Since signing with the Phillies in 2012 at just 16 years old, Suárez has spent the better part of his career with the franchise. He became the soul of the pitching force, showing up in the toughest moments, from the Non-waimin mound to the decisive pitch that sent the team to the 2022 World Series. In the 2025 season, despite missing the first month with a sore back and being controversially excluded from the All-Star Game, fans always saw a man who fought not only for himself but also for the great community that has loved him for many years.
This season, Suárez finished with a 12-8 record, a 3.20 ERA in 26 starts, helping the Phillies rank third in MLB in innings pitched. He also had a memorable double: an 8-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays with a 1.16 ERA over the last 7 games and a great 7 ⅔ innings in a close 0-1 loss to the Houston Astros. But the 2025 NLDS loss in the deciding series and the risk of leaving the team after his contract was no longer available made the farewell inevitable.
In the postseason meeting, Suárez did not talk about stats or trades, but emotionally addressed the fans: “I know many people want me to stay with the Phillies forever, and that feeling will never go away for me. Every moment from 2022 to now has been a part of my life, from the refreshing season to the playoffs to the darkest days of my tired arms.”
He recalls his first MLB pitch, his bullpen stints, before becoming the number one pitcher – all for a dream: “I always wanted to show everyone from Venezuela to Philadelphia, a guy with my uncle Marlon Colón – my father – who used to take a bus two hours to come to the field to watch me practice every morning. My success is not just a name on the scoreboard, but the pride of the fans who lived every game with me.”
Suárez is about to enter his first free agency period, and according to analysts, he could leave with a six-year contract – around $161 million. But what people will remember forever is not the money or the title, but the image of a man standing the last in the Phillies locker room, looking out at the field and saying: “Thank you fans – if I leave, please remember that with every pitch, I fought for something bigger than myself.”
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