CINCINNATI –Eugenio Suarez was afforded an opportunity to play every day when Zack Cozart underwent season-ending knee surgery. The struggle next season for the Cincinnati Reds might be finding a place for the 24-year-old Suarez to play.
Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez (7) drives in a run with single in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Great American Ball Park. (David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports)
On Monday night, Suarez went 3-for-5 with a solo homer, double and three RBIs. His solo shot with one out sparked a 10-run sixth-inning outburst in a 12-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Suarez now has homered three times in 10 games and is batting .308 in 60 games with nine homers and 35 RBIs.
“He’s been an impact bat,” said manager Bryan Price. “I thought the bat potential was there. But to be as robust as it’s been has been a welcome surprise. Those are legitimate power and run-producing numbers.”
While Cozart is among the finest defensive infielders in baseball, Suarez is still a diamond in the rough defensively. He already has 11 errors this season.
There’s been discussion about moving Suarez to another position, possibly left field, to keep his bat in the lineup when Cozart returns in 2016. But the Reds are reluctant to find Suarez a new position at this point.
Suarez now has hit safely in five of six games and has produced hitting streaks of five, six, eight and nine games this year.
The home run aside, Suarez’s two-run double in the sixth on Monday night when he went with a 1-2 pitch and dumped it into left field was as impressive for Price.
“With two strikes, he’s giving us much better quality swings,” said Price. “He’s doing everything he can to put the ball in play.”
