CINCINNATI — After playing most of his career at shortstop, the Cincinnati Reds’ Eugenio Suarez moved to third base after popular Todd Frazier was traded. Changing positions hasn’t impacted Suarez’s bat, but it might have set him back defensively.
Suarez wasn’t a great fielding shortstop to begin with, with 30 errors last season in 154 games between the Reds and Triple-A. He already has nine miscues in 39 games this year.
“I don’t think he’s close to being a finished product,” said Reds manager Bryan Price. “He’s still more of a shortstop playing third base.”
On Wednesday night, Suarez committed two fielding errors, one when he allowed a ground ball to go through his legs allowing a run to score from third. If Suarez simply knocked the ball down, the runner would’ve held.
“The difference from spring training is you get more exposed when you’re playing every day,” said Price. “The ball gets on you more quickly. You can’t go down on one knee and take a ball at shortstop, but sometimes at third base, you have to take a knee.”
Suarez has been working closely with infield coach Freddie Benavides to improve his defense. Offensively, he’s needed little help.
Suarez’s three-run home run in the sixth inning Wednesday was his ninth, which leads the team. He ranks second on the club in RBIs and ranks among National League third baseman in several offensive categories.
He extended his hitting streak to seven with a fourth-inning single in Thursday night’s 7-2 loss to Cleveland.
“Whether he hits second or sixth, he’s an impact guy,” Price says.
And, with the Reds in rebuilding mode, they can remain patient with Suarez as he develops in the field.
“One of the best things about the position we’re in is he doesn’t have to worry that a mistake is going to cost us the World Series,” Price said.
