4:50pm: Suarez will go on the DL on Monday, per MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, who expects the Reds to replace him with Pennington and Gosselin.
2:39pm: Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez has suffered a fractured right thumb, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic was among those to report. The injury occurred when Suarez took a pitch off the hand from the Pirates’ Jameson Taillon on Sunday.
It’s unclear how much time Suarez will miss, though he’s likely to head to the disabled list, thus depriving the Reds of one of their top players. The 26-year-old has gotten off to an excellent start this season, having batted .296/.424/.630 with a pair of home runs in 33 plate appearances, after landing an extension last month. The Reds guaranteed Suarez $66MM over seven years on the heels of a breakout 2017 in which he posted 4.0 fWAR and slashed .260/.367/.461 with 26 HRs in 632 trips to the plate.
The Reds replaced Suarez with veteran infielder Cliff Pennington on Sunday. He could continue to man third while Suarez is out, then, while Phil Gosselin represents another potential replacement on the club’s 25-man roster. Forty-man options in the minors include Alex Blandino and Shed Long, both of whom are with Triple-A Louisville. Infielder Nick Senzel, one of the best prospects in baseball, is also at the highest level of the minors in the Reds’ system. Senzel, 22, could be a candidate for a promotion, though he’s not on Cincinnati’s 40-man roster.
At least he wasn’t sliding in headfirst (stupid!)
These things happen. How fast was the pitch?
Just watched the replay 94MPH
Nick Senzel time…
Nope. They won’t lose a year of team control by bringing him up before June.
The deadline for maintaining 1 additional year of Team Control passes on or about April 14th. Once that date passes, the player cannot accrue a full year of service time in 2018, so the Team gains an extra year of control on the back end.
The deadline for Super Two is typically in June, with the date changing each year, and subject to that player’s service time….if I understand that right. It allows the player to reach Arbitration 1 year earlier…..which an extra year of Arbitration can be expensive for some players.
That’s right, if they bring him up in a week and keep him up he’ll probably become a super 2. Which means he’ll get arbitration 1 year more of arbitration, for a total of 4 years of arbitration . You don’t lose a year of control.
A broken thumb can be a bothersome injury and trouble someone a long time.
Thanks, Debbie Downer.
Playing baseball I had both broken one and also dislocated one. It is aggravating when you can’t even grip your zipper.
“Thanks, Debbie Downer.”
southi is raising a legitimate concern. You’d prefer mindless optimism instead? Can’t even raise a real issue here without getting flamed in response. Thanks, Professor Pangloss.
Ah, astick was just trying some light banter. I took it
in the playful spirit intended.
That was my intent, yes, jorge78. I apologize, Mr Glass (majorflaw)
No apology necessary. Can’t always read intent though. Sometimes a clue or two helps.
Alex Blandino was pulled during the game for Louisville almost as soon as Suarez’s diagnosis was announced. He’s almost certainly being called up.
Nice insight. Thanks for this. Shut down my unrealistic thought they might try and add Senzel sooner
The service time point has been beaten to death. Personally, having watched some of Senzel during spring training, he might need just a little bit more seasoning in AAA.
He seemed very impatient at the plate. Though, that’s not the way he’s been in the minors. He may have just been a little amped up, it being his first taste of big league action.
shed plays 2nd, is in AA Not AAA. Dont see much point to him coming up.
Right, Just like Senzel, they wouldn’t want to start his clock. Long is at the earliest a 2019 call up.
Playing time will probably go to 2b/3b/SS Alex Blandino, the 25 year old former first round draft pick who put up a .390 OBP in AAA last year, and has a .362 career OBP in the minors. He arguably earned a spot with a strong spring, but they said they wanted him to keep playing everyday, and couldn’t guarantee him enough ABs off the bench. Getting pulled from AAA Louisville’s game right after Suarez left, it seems extremely likely he’ll get called up, and I’m unsure why assessments of his needing to play regularly would’ve changed in the past week. It should be a big opportunity for him. If he does well he can stick around as a super sub and a platoon option for Scooter Gennett at 2b when Suarez returns.
No doubt Gosselin and Pennington will play occasionally, but hopefully Blandino will get the majority of playing time.
I think Reds fans fond of Jesse Winker’s high OBP approach will like Blandino, too. While people who don’t like Jesse Winker for questionable power will be similarly critical of Blandino.
I think, as a Padres fan, this seems to be the complaint about Chase Headley. He has reasonable on-base skills and the defense used to be very good, but because he’s never really been a power guy (except for one fluky season) he’s always been considered a disappointment. There are other ways to contribute on a baseball field.
Totally agree. Headley’s expectations have since been based on his 2011 production. He is a solid major leaguer who will give you above replacement level performance always.
There’s enough power behind Winker to cover for his lack of power. If he can get on base he will have a spot in the line up. Plus with Hamilton at the bottom of the line up getting on at a .260 clip and stealing bases all Winker needs to do is get it out of the infield with a base hit.
Blandino will fit in well I think.
Winker used to have power before a some wrist injuries. Also, playing at the Bats’ field for half of the season can sap some of the power from anyone. Louisville Slugger Field and GABP are almost polar opposites. He seems to have more gap power than home run power, too.
Blandino will probably come up until the deadline to get the extra year of control, then I expect Senzel
The Reds are talking to dat dude, Brandon Phillips as we speak. (Kidding folks, lighten up)
Since Pennington can’t field, hit or run, why not? Pennington’s only real value is being an emergency pitcher.