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Good news from Goodyear reported less than an hour ago:
David Bell says the latest updates on Eugenio Suárez are encouraging and it’s realistic that he could be ready to play on Opening Day. #Reds
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) February 13, 2020
This is the first update on Eugenio Suarez’s progress since the Reds announced at the end of January that their third baseman had undergone shoulder surgery. Even before this welcome report, the Reds had put the timeline for Suarez returning as early in the season.
Suarez’ shoulder injury and surgery was much less serious than the torn labrum repair center fielder Nick Senzel went through in the fall. If you recall, Senzel was held out of any baseball activities for four months. He’s now recovering — nicely by all accounts — in Goodyear. Even at the time the news broke a couple weeks ago about Suarez, Senzel was, and still is, the larger concern, in terms of timing and power returning to his swing.
Both Senzel and Suarez should be healthy and operational by Opening Day.
This isn’t Suarez’s first time with an early-season injury.
When Suarez broke his thumb at the start of the 2018 season (damn you Clint Hurdle) the replacement was Gossington. People speculated Suarez would miss 6-8 weeks. He missed 2.5. Fast healer?
— Steve Mancuso (@spmancuso) January 28, 2020
The Reds are much better positioned now to deal with Suarez’s absence. The offseason signing of free agent Mike Moustakas and the outfield depth to slide Senzel to the infield gives them decent options if necessary.
Still, the positive report from David Bell this morning means if Eugenio Suarez doesn’t suffer a setback, the Reds have a good chance to avoid early season position shuffling. Plus, with hopes high for the 2020 season, it would be great to see Suarez in the lineup on Opening Day.
[Featured image: https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1152002035077640192]
Playing in a dome with the DH the second series should help things as well. Any writers going to spring training?
Matt Wilkes and I will be out there together. Looking forward to it.
Good news for Suarez and the Reds. Reds have good depth at most positions in case of injury, dietrich provides that for 2b and 1b. Except for at SS, but maybe Senzel can back that up on an as needed basis.
I’m still interested to see what happens with Mahle if all Sp’s are healthy. It seems like a really smart strategy to have 6 solid starters going into spring training. Maybe they take the LA dodgers tact and keep Mahle on the roster as a swingman, like Wood, Maeda, Stripling of the past couple years.
Dietrich has to be behind Josh VanMeter, right? Blandino also covers 2B and SS. Castellanos and Farmer can play 1B. Hard to see Dietrich making the team unless several injuries.
What if Mahle is clearly better than Miley?
Agree Dietrich on down the pecking order and makes the team only if injuries occur.
Good question if mahle outperforms and all are healthy, I still think mahle helps 2020 reds tremendously out of the bullpen and occasional spot start.
I assume you and Matt will go to Matt’s big breakfast one day and get the rosemary home fries. I am envious.
One day? We’re going to be there five days. We’re staying in the Phoenix area, not Goodyear, so much closer. I’d put the over-under line at 2.5 and probably go with over.
Look up Kay’s Cafe on 43rd. A+ breakfast.
Brian is so spot on about Kay’s been there a lot .hope all y’all have a good stay over there. I still haven’t forgiven the reds for leaving Florida. It left a big hole in me , but I guess business is business.