Eugenio

Suárez

It’s just a routine day off for the veteran with a day game after a night game. Nathaniel Lowe will start in his place at designated hitter and draws a tough assignment with Paul Skenes pitching for the Pirates.

Suárez’s homer off Greg Weissert in the sixth was projected at 431 feet. Two innings earlier, he had a 403-foot flyout that Statcast said would have been a homer in seven ballparks. Suárez is going to struggle to hit for average, and he’s already lost some fantasy value by getting dropped from fourth to fifth in the Reds lineup, but there still aren’t many better bets in terms of homers and RBI, especially if Matt McLain and Sal Stewart continue to hit like this.

Hayes is 6-for-30 with one extra-base hit this spring, and it’s going to be interesting to see just how committed the Reds are to him at third if he doesn’t hit early in the regular season. They have four theoretical alternatives at third in Eugenio Suárez, Sal Stewart, Spencer Steer and Noelvi Marte. Suárez started there three times before leaving for the WBC, suggesting that he might be Francona’s preferred choice. Stewart has played there just once, while the other two haven’t been used there at all. Christian Encarnacion-Strand also got three starts at third before being sent down. Most likely, Hayes is going to be the everyday guy at the beginning of the season, but the Reds might be tempted to keep Nathaniel Lowe on the roster if they want to think of Hayes as more of a part-timer.

Luis Arraez drew a rare walk on what looked to be strike two to open the ninth against Garrett Whitlock and then pinch-runner Javier Sanoja stole second on a close play. Suárez followed with a clean double into the gap in right-center for the go-ahead run, and Daniel Palencia mowed down Kyle Schwarber, pinch-hitter Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony in the bottom of the ninth. Team USA was shut out for seven innings until Bryce Harper hit a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth. Venezuela’s previous runs came in a Maikel Garcia sac fly and a Wilyer Abreu homer. It’s Venezuela’s first WBC title, and the U.S. is the runnerup for the second straight tournament after losing to Japan by the same score in the final last time out.

Suárez was one of Venezuela’s heroes during Monday’s comeback win over Italy to reach the WBC final, launching a solo homer off starter Aaron Nola to jump-start a four-run outburst. He’ll get the nod at DH after appearing in just four of the six games for Venezuela to this point in the tournament. Here’s the full lineup: Ronald Acuña Jr. (RF), Maikel Garcia (3B), Luis Arraez (1B), Suárez (DH), Gleyber Torres (2B), Ezequiel Tovar (SS), Wilyer Abreu (LF), Salvador Perez (C) and Jackson Chourio (CF).

Suárez’s homer off Aaron Nola put Venezuela on the board with the score 2-0 on the fourth, and the team rallied for three runs on a walk and then four straight two-out singles from Jackson Chourio, Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel Garcia and Luis Arraez in the seventh. Eduardo Bazardo, Andrés Machado and Daniel Palencia shut the door from there. It’s Venezuela’s first time in the finals of the WBC. They’re expected to start Eduardo Rodriguez against Team USA and Nolan McLean.

Stewart’s playing-time storyline feels less like a minor subplot and more like a central theme this spring, as Cincinnati simply may not have everyday at-bats available for him alongside Eugenio Suárez and Spencer Steer. The Reds also have veteran Nathaniel Lowe in camp as another first base option. The 22-year-old power-hitting prospect is expected to focus primarily on first base during camp as he competes for a starting role at the cold corner. His occasional appearances at second base appear to be less about a permanent positional shift and more about expanding his defensive résumé.

This deal was reported on Sunday and is now official. With the Reds adding Ke’Bryan Hayes last year, Suárez figures to be the team’s primary designated hitter in 2026. He will hit in the middle of the order and could surpass 40 home runs yet again while playing in Great American Ballpark. This seemingly cements him as a top 10 third baseman in fantasy baseball this year.

The deal also includes a $16 million mutual option for the 2027 season. The 34-year-old slugger previously played for the Reds from 2015-2021. He clobbered 49 home runs and drove in 118 runs in 657 plate appearances between the Diamondbacks and Mariners in 2025 despite slashing an underwhelming .228/.298/.526. His arrival could push Sal Stewart out of an everyday role to start the season.

The 34-year-old slugger was acquired for the second time at last season’s trade deadline and Suárez added significant right-handed punch to a lineup that was devoid of it. Suárez hasn’t seen his market materialize quite as expected this winter, so a reunion with the M’s on a multi-year deal may make sense for both sides.