Wander Suero, Washington Nationals’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year, exits game with tightness in left side...

Wander Suero, the Washington Nationals’ Minor Leaguer Pitcher of the Year in 2017, and the closer for Triple-A Syracuse last season, exited Washington’s 8-5 win over the New York Mets in West Palm Beach today with tightness in his left side.

Suero—who is regarded by many as one of the few major-league ready pitching prospects in the Nationals’ organization (especially in terms of relievers) and recorded 20 saves in the minors last season to the tune of a 1.79 ERA—left after throwing just two pitches in the ninth inning.

‘He complained of tightness in his left side, so we took him out,” manager Dave Martinez told reporters, as quoted by MASN’s Pete Kerzel, after the game.

”Right now, he’s going to get re-evaluated. There’s no MRI or anything scheduled. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”

Despite not being MLB Pipeline’s list of the Nats’ Top-30 prospects, Suero was added to the 40-man roster this winter, and could, if healthy, provide some stop-gap help if any reliever goes down.

In fact, with all the bullpen troubles the Nats suffered last season, it was surprising that Suero didn’t get the call, even as a September call-up.

“I personally think I was very capable of pitching up here in the big leagues. But that’s out of my control, out of my hands,” Suero told reporters through interpreter Octavio Martinez, as quoted by The Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes late last season.

‘But that just makes me work harder in the offseason and prove to them that I am able and ready to pitch up here. When I get that opportunity, I’ll take advantage of it.”