Cincinnati Reds: Lineup weathering the storm as Eugenio Suárez nears his comeback
May 21—PHILADELPHIA — During the offseason, the Cincinnati Reds extended their budget to get the impact slugger that they needed. Signing Eugenio Suárez was the biggest offseason move that the Reds had made in five years. Over the last month, the Reds have had to carry along without him as Suárez has been on the injured list with an oblique injury.
During the last few weeks, the Reds have crashed down in the standings. The good news for the Reds is that Suárez is making progress. A follow-up MRI last Friday, May 15 cleared Suárez to resume hitting on the field and hitting against velocity.
He has been out since the last week of April, and he has been ramping back up to get ready to be back in the lineup. He was expected to start a rehab assignment on Wednesday, May 20. In his absence, the Reds' lineup hasn't had much consistency.
The offense has managed to be solid overall. First, designated hitter Nathaniel Lowe got hot, stepped into a role that gave him regular playing time and sparked the offseason. Then, JJ Bleday got a chance to play regularly.
He hit so well that he's now a fixture in the middle of the Reds' order. "He was the fourth pick in the draft not all that long ago," manager Terry Francona said. "He had whatever struggles he had in Oakland.