PHILADELPHIA.- Ranger Suárez had never spent Father’s Day with his children. Unable to leave Venezuela due to a complicated visa process, his wife had never seen the left-hander pitch in person with the Philadelphia Phillies.
His family missed out on watching him go from a prospect who signed with the Phillies as an international free agent in 2012 to an ace and potential All-Star for the National League team with the best record this season.
Finally, Suárez has reunited with his family in the United States.
The left-hander went without a decision and pitched six solid innings for the Phillies, who lost 5-2 to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. The defeat didn’t seem to matter to him for the first time.
His wife Joseany and children Sofía, 6, and Dominick, 3, sat behind home plate and gave Suárez all the reasons he needed to smile in the clubhouse after almost a decade.
“I’m very excited to see them, hug them, talk and play with them,” Suárez said. “I saw them before the game and it was a totally different feeling. Very cool”.
The Venezuelan has enjoyed a great season with the Phillies and has helped lead them to a 49-25 record.
Golden year so far:
He is 10-1 with a 1.75 ERA and is one of the favorites to start the National League All-Star Game next month in Texas.
“If I get selected to the All-Star Game, I will definitely go and bring my family,” he shared. “It would be a great experience to play my first All-Star Game and be able to take them.”
The couple married in the offseason to help them obtain the necessary visa to bring their family to the United States. The children watched the Phillies play on television and cheered on their father as he helped the team reach the World Series in 2022 and the National League Championship Series last season.
Suárez knows how much it would mean to everyone if the whole family could enjoy another postseason.
Source: AP
