Joander Suarez, Photo by Ed Delany of Mets Minors

Joander Suarez’s first week in Double-A continues to get sweeter. After throwing six no-hit innings in which he struck out six and walked just one, the Rumble Ponies announced on Monday that Suarez was named Minor League Baseball’s Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for August 28 through September 3.

Suarez, 23 years old and originally from Cumana, Venezuela was signed by the Mets in 2018. After spending extensive time on the injured list between 2021-2022 as a result of having Tommy John Surgery, the right-handed starting pitcher appears to be healthy and is finding his groove on the mound.

Suarez was called up from Single-A Brooklyn on August 29 after going 5-9 with a 5.08 ERA with the Cyclones. During his time with the Mets’ high-A affiliate, he threw 90 1/3 innings, giving up 51 earned runs on 83 hits, with 45 walks, and an impressive 118 strikeouts. His WHIP was 1.42 with Brooklyn. Suarez has a 2.73 ERA and 60 strikeouts compared to only 10 walks in 43 innings over his last eight starts with Brooklyn.

During his last start with Brooklyn, he broke the team’s single-season franchise record for strikeouts with 118.

Suarez’s first game with Double-A Binghamton came on August 31 against the Harrisburg Senators (Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals). During his six no-hit innings, Suarez walked just one batter and struck out six. After Binghamton went on to defeat Harrisburg in a 1-0 shutout win, Suarez was credited with his first Double-A win.

Combined between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton, after striking out six against Harrisburg, Suarez has struck out a combined 124 batters in 2023. He also improves to 6-9 on the season combined between the two levels and has a combined 4.76 ERA.