Huge reinforcement could be on the way soon for Atlanta's bullpen.
Robert Suarez has reached the point in his rehab where the Atlanta Braves can finally start putting hitters in front of him again.
That does not mean Atlanta knows exactly when he will be back.
Suarez faced three hitters and threw about 15 pitches during a live batting practice session Sunday at Truist Park, another step forward after right elbow inflammation sidelined him in June. He has not appeared in a game since June 19, and the Braves transferred him to the 60-day injured list on Sept. 1.
For now, Suarez isn't interested in putting a specific date on his return.
"I don't have an exact date in mind, but I'm feeling really good in the rehab process, and I'm hoping to finish strong," Suarez said through Braves interpreter Franco García, via Rick Farlow of MLB.com.
That has become the theme of Suarez's recovery. The Braves aren't rushing him toward a particular day on the calendar, and Suarez's focus has been on getting himself back to the point where a return actually feels like a return.
"Mostly working on rhythm," Suarez said. "I just want my body to be in the right sequence, and be around the zone and be able to attack hitters. When the time comes, I want to be in that game-time rhythm."
The distinction matters for a reliever who was one of Atlanta's most important arms before the injury.
Suarez made 31 appearances before landing on the injured list, working primarily as a high-leverage setup man. He posted a 0.56 ERA across 32 innings, giving the Braves the kind of late-inning option they expected when they signed him last offseason.
Now Atlanta is trying to get that pitcher back with the postseason approaching.
Manager Walt Weiss came away from Sunday's session more encouraged than he expected to be.
"I was very encouraged," Weiss said, according to The Athletic's Jesus Cano. "To be honest with you, I wasn't expecting that. I thought he kind of eased into it, but he let it go, and it was really good, and he felt really good afterwards."
That may be the most meaningful update the Braves have received in this process.
Suarez is expected to throw again later this week, giving Atlanta another opportunity to see how his elbow responds before deciding what comes next. For a reliever, the Braves don't necessarily need an extended rehab assignment to know whether he is ready, but they do need to know that the strength and rhythm Suarez is working toward can hold up when the stakes are real.
The timing makes the progress especially important. Atlanta entered Sunday with an 88-61 record and a six-game lead over the Phillies in the NL East, with a playoff berth potentially coming as soon as Monday.
If Suarez can finish his rehab the way he hopes, the Braves could have one of their most trusted high-leverage arms available again before October.
For now, though, Suarez is leaving the calendar alone.
He's focused on getting back to game-time rhythm first. The return date can come after that.
