Our season report card series continues. Here we will be looking at how Brent Suter performed during the 2021 season.
Suter is now the Brewers’ most-tenured player. After Manny Pina signed a two-year deal with Atlanta Braves, he no longer holds that title. Pina had been with the team since December of 2015. The 2022 season will hit five years of service for Brent with Milwaukee. He made his MLB debut on August 19th, 2016.
Suter currently has a career 3.46 ERA over 142 games. He has a record of 31-16 and one save recorded. The Raptor was first used as a starting pitcher. That changed when he unfortunately underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in July of 2018. He sits at 328 innings pitched, 285 strike outs and enters his third year of arbitration this off-season.
Suter 2021 Stats
Suter has cemented himself as one of the best and consistent relievers that the Brewers have. He still starts a game here and there, but usually when it is a bullpen day. That didn’t happen too often in 2021, since the Brewers are now pretty deep at starting pitcher. Brent started only one game last season.
On May 13th, the lefty started in Miami against the Marlins. He pitched 2.1 innings, gave up four hits, three runs and had two strike outs. Milwaukee would end up losing 6-1, and went up against a solid outing from young starter Trevor Rogers. He pitched five innings, had six Ks, four hits and only one run.
It took a while for Suter to be put in the right position during 2021. For a while, he would come in with bases loaded or pitch during extra innings with a runner already on base. Brent is a true specialty reliever when he isn’t starting. Suter is known for speeding the game up and pitching very fast. He actually has a different pitching stance and style when no one is on base compared to when there are baserunners. Brent had some up and down success, but truly hit his stride when used correctly during the season.
The Chicago native ended with a 3.07 ERA, 69 strike outs and actually led baseball with 12 relief wins and a 12-5 record. Suter is known as “The Raptor”, but teammates gave him the nickname of “The Vulture” because he would “vulture” wins when he came in as a reliever in close games. Having a great nickname as a player is a good thing, but having two is probably even better. They even got him a fancy shirt.
Unfortunately, Suter was unable to pitch in the Atlanta Braves playoff series when Milwaukee needed the extra relief depth. He suffered a right oblique strain. It was terrible timing for the Brewers. The offense was struggling, and two of their best relievers, Suter and Devin Williams, were unable to play.
Suter Off The Field
This report card is always for on and off the field for Brent Suter. The environmental science major from Harvard uses his platform as a player to help the environment. He has partnered with multiple environmental causes, and an ambassador for Players for the Planet. He even helped create exclusive UW school environmental programs.
For every save the team got during the 2021 season, $1K was donated to environmental causes by S.C. Johnson after teaming up with Brent. The team ended up with 44 saves total, so $44K went to help protect the Earth. Yes, it was mostly Josh Hader, but the team still helped raise money for a good cause.
Suter has also been nominated for the Roberto Clemente award two years in a row, which recognizes players for their character both on and off the field. That’s a special kind of player on your team that can perform on the field, and do so much off of it as well.
He had another solid season. He wasn’t perfect and some of his appearances were rocky, but he is a solid reliever who can still be used as a starter when needed. What he brings to the team with his personality, being one of the faces of the team and his passion for the environment will always make his grade a good one. “The Raptor” is a key piece to the Brewers right now.
2021 Season Grade: B+
Other Report Cards:
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