Eugenio Suárez begins rehab swings with Triple-A Louisville Bats

Eugenio Suarez’s path back to Cincinnati started with swings in Triple-A Louisville, a live checkpoint for the Reds as they gauge whether their middle-of-the-order bat is ready to return without a setback. The 34-year-old infielder, who has been out with a mild left oblique strain, is using the Louisville Bats to prove his swing is ready again, and the next two days should tell the Reds plenty about his timing, mobility and ability to handle third base.

Suarez landed on the 10-day injured list on April 25, retroactive to April 23, after he felt something in his side while taking batting-practice swings. The injury came at an awkward moment for Cincinnati, which has leaned on Suarez as one of its most experienced power bats. Before the layoff, he had produced 3 home runs, 11 RBI and a .663 OPS in 91 at-bats this season, numbers that underscored both his importance and the offense the Reds have missed.

Reds manager Terry Francona said an MRI showed “really good healing,” and the club has spent the last several days ramping Suarez up carefully. He had already been cleared to do normal pregame work on the field with Cincinnati, including stretching, hitting, taking ground balls and running the bases, and the next step was a structured rehab assignment with Louisville at Louisville Slugger Field.

The plan called for Suarez to join the Bats, take batting practice and work out with the team before serving as the designated hitter on Wednesday and playing third base on Thursday. That sequence gives Cincinnati a cleaner read on both his swing and his movement, two pieces the Reds need to see before deciding when to activate him. MLB.com listed his expected return as June or July, though a smooth rehab run could move that timeline up.

For now, the assignment is less about box scores than about whether Suarez can look like himself again against live pitching. If the swing holds and the body responds, Louisville’s next few games could end up reshaping Cincinnati’s lineup sooner than the original calendar suggested.