Suárez chosen to start first exhibition game

SARASOTA, Fla. – The drama was building. Manager Brandon Hyde walked to the entrance of the baseball operations center, where media gathers for his morning scrum, and teased the day’s big news.

Who’s starting the exhibition opener Saturday afternoon against the Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium?

Hyde asked for everyone’s predictions, which were written down on a notepad. He listened to the names and confirmed that one person got it right.

Albert Suárez will do the honors on the MASN broadcast.

“Just lining things up, honestly,” Hyde said. “Albert’s ready to go and we’re just kind of going in order a little bit. Like I said, don’t read anything into it. Big Al is ready and you work back from the first day of the season and do the best you can, and things change all the way through that. You shuffle some things around. But we’re stretching Al as a starter and we’ll see how it goes.”

Corbin Burnes made the initial start last spring and it came as a surprise based on recent choices with pitchers who weren’t projected to make the club. Burnes was the slam-dunk Opening Day starter. He didn’t figure to also be the first on the mound in Florida.

Yefry Ramírez got the ball for the first exhibition game in 2019, Chandler Shepherd in 2020, Thomas Eshelman in 2021, Spenser Watkins in 2022 and Drew Rom in 2023.

Suárez made 32 appearances last season, including 24 starts, and posted a 3.70 ERA in 133 2/3 innings. He didn’t break camp with the team as a non-roster invite but was called up early and debuted April 17.

“Right now he’s got a lot of confidence,” Hyde said. “He’s in incredible shape. He worked really hard this offseason. I saw that at the (Birdland) Caravan, it was noticeable the shape that he’s in, and I know how much time and effort he’s put in this offseason.

“He wants to build off last year. It was a great story for him to kind of get that feeling of being back in the big leagues, and doing so well. It really drove him this offseason to come in great shape and put himself in position.”

Suárez is out of options and seems to have a spot secured, most likely in the bullpen because the five-man rotation should contain Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano. He never expresses a preference. Just let him pitch.

“He’s an incredible team guy. He really is all about the team and do whatever he can to help our team win,” Hyde said.

“He’s got so much value for us because of the starting/bullpen versatility. Last year, I thought when he did go in the bullpen, he recovered well, so that’s a big thing, too. Guys who are used to starting, it’s tough to then go on different kinds of routines. I felt like Al responded pretty well, just because he’s been shuffled around so much in his career. He’s kind of used to the back and forth, the starting and the reliever. It’s helpful.”

Hyde isn’t ready to share his Sunday afternoon starter against the Phillies in Clearwater.

* Morton isn’t in camp today because of an illness.