Suarez (elbow) shifted his rehab assignment to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday and allowed one run on one hit and one walk while failing to strike out a batter in his lone inning of work.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez, who has been on the shelf all season while recovering from an elbow injury, was making his fifth rehab appearance overall but his first at El Paso after prior stints in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and with Single-A Lake Elsinore. According to 97.3 The Fan San Diego, Padres manager Bob Melvin said Sunday that Suarez checked out "OK" following the rehab outing at El Paso, but the skipper noted that the reliever will "probably" require one more appearance in the minors before being activated from the 60-day injured list. Once he's reinstated, Suarez will likely settle in as a key setup man in front of closer Josh Hader.

Suarez (elbow) appeared in his second rehab game with the Arizona Complex League Padres on Tuesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez logged his first rehab outing of the season for the ACL club Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters over one inning. His second appearance wasn't as smooth, though it's a positive sign that he's pitched twice in four days after missing the first three-plus months of the season due right elbow inflammation. Per MLB.com, Suarez is next expected to move his rehab stint to Triple-A El Paso on July 7. The Padres are hopeful that the righty reliever can return to the big-league bullpen sometime after the All-Star break.

Suarez (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday and could face hitters "imminently," AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez has yet to play this season after experiencing arm stiffness and elbow inflammation in mid-March during spring training. However, he's tossed multiple bullpens over the past few weeks and now appears set to take the next step in his recovery. Suarez will almost certainly require a minor-league rehab stint before joining the San Diego bullpen, but he could return in the first half of July.

Padres manager Bob Melvin said this weekend that Suarez (elbow) will throw another bullpen session in the coming days but remains without a definitive timeline for a return from the 60-day injured list, 97.3 The Fan San Diego reports.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez has been on the shelf all season with right elbow inflammation, but the reliever reached a major milestone in his recovery Friday, when he threw what Melvin said was a 26- or 27-pitch bullpen session that incorporated his full arsenal. Melvin acknowledged that the right-hander is on a similar buildup progression to a pitcher in the early stages of spring training, so Suarez will presumably need at least two or three weeks' worth of bullpen work, live sessions and minor-league rehab games before he's deemed fit to rejoin the San Diego bullpen. The 32-year-old was a key setup arm for the Padres as a rookie in 2022, making 45 appearances while logging a 2.27 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 61:21 K:BB in 47.2 innings while notching five wins, 12 holds and one save.

Suarez (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday, per MLB.com.

EDGE Analysis

This is a significant step toward a return for Suarez, who has yet to pitch this season as a result of right elbow inflammation that first occurred during spring training. The right-hander is likely still weeks away from a return, and it is unclear when he may be able to begin a rehab assignment.

Suarez (elbow) is scheduled to throw a full bullpen session Friday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez has already thrown off the mound a couple of times, but the catcher was positioned in front of the plate during those workouts. He's now ready to take things to the next level in his ongoing recovery from lingering stiffness and inflammation in his right elbow. Re-signed to a five-year, $46 million contract this offseason, the 32-year-old setup man could finally be a contributor for the Padres around the end of June.

Suarez (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez was placed on the 15-day IL toward the end of March, and he was recently shut down from throwing after experiencing tightness in his right elbow while playing catch. There's still no details on when the Padres plan to have him get back to throwing, but he will certainly be out for much longer than originally expected.

Suarez (elbow) has been shut down from throwing after experiencing tightness in his right elbow while playing catch, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez was placed on the 15-day IL on March 30 due to stiffness and inflammation in his right elbow. He began playing catch April 1 but is no longer throwing due to the setback. The right-hander had an MRI that revealed no ligament damage in the tight elbow, but it's uncertain when he'll be able to resume throwing. Suarez is unlikely to rejoin the Padres bullpen until at least May.

Suarez (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to March 27.

EDGE Analysis

Suarez developed some arm stiffness and right elbow inflammation around the middle of spring camp, and it's not exactly clear when he might be able to make his 2023 debut. The right-hander landed a five-year, $46 million contract from the Padres in November and will operate in a prominent setup role whenever he's back to full health.

Suarez is likely to begin the season on the injured list because of arm stiffness and joint inflammation, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

An MRI revealed no structural damage for Suarez, but the right-hander hasn't been able to throw since March 12, and he's unlikely to be ready for the regular season. Suarez was expected to be a big part of the San Diego bullpen behind Josh Hader, and it now appears we won't see him pitch for the Padres before the middle of April.