Reds' Suarez just a 'ballplayer' – and that's OK

SAN DIEGO — Eugenio Suarez isn’t caught up in too many labels, be it two-hole hitter, shortstop, whatever. In the end, he considers himself just a “ballplayer,” and that’s all he wants to be.

In his 48 games this season entering Monday’s game against the Padres, Suarez has shown himself to be a big-league ballplayer. Since being called up to replace Zack Cozart in early June, Suarez has played nearly every day for the Reds.

On Monday, Reds manager Bryan Price moved Suarez up to second in the lineup, rewarding his play so far. Suarez is hitting .305/.332/.475 with six home runs and 25 RBI so far this season and has done it mostly at the bottom of the Reds order.

“I think he’s earned the opportunity to go up there and get some more at-bats at the top of the lineup and help set the table for (Joey) Votto, (Todd) Frazier, (Jay) Bruce, (Marlon) Byrd, that group,” Price said.

More than that, Suarez earned his way into the discussion for the Reds’ future. Cozart is expected to return from a knee injury in spring, but Suarez has shown his bat needs to be in the Reds' lineup somewhere.

“I think it will be more of a talking point as we get into the offseason,” Price said. “Certainly at this point, looking at him simply as a defensive-minded shortstop who’s a support system in case something happened to Zack next year, I think he’s elevated himself beyond that in our organization as a guy that’s establishing himself as a major league-ready player.”

The Reds acquired Suarez along with minor-league right-hander Jonathon Crawford in the deal that sent Alfredo Simon to Detroit in December.

Last year for Detroit, Suarez got a similar chance with the Tigers as he’s getting this year, filling in for an injured shortstop. It was for the Tigers’ Jose Iglesias, who had stress fractures in his shins last year, and this year it’s Cozart, who had a season-ending knee injury on June 10.

Suarez started off hot for the Tigers before he cooled down, ending up hitting .242/.316/.336 with four home runs in 85 games for the Tigers. He’s been more consistent with the Reds, in part because he says he’s more comfortable with this team but also because of a mechanical change.

After starting the season at Triple-A Lousiville, Bats hitting coach Tony Jaramillo worked with Suarez to add a bigger leg kick to his swing.

“Last year I was just a little short (stride), but I didn’t see very good on breaking pitches, now I’m able to stay with the ball, curveballs, sliders,” Suarez said before Monday’s game. “I worked a lot with my hitting coach in Triple-A and now here Marlon Byrd and Don Long, those guys helped me a lot.”

Price said Suarez will get some time next spring in left field – a position Suarez said he’s played before – as well as at second and third base in addition to shortstop.

“The great thing he’s done with this opportunity is he’s proven that he’s more than a really good defensive player, which I think was his calling card as a young player coming up through the Tigers system,” Price said. “What we’re seeing here is not just the bat potential, but the bat is playing at a higher level in the big leagues than it did in Triple-A. We’re seeing some power. We’re seeing some run production. We’re seeing an improving two-strike approach, some patience in looking and getting a good pitch to hit early in the at-bat and not giving at-bats away. And this is a kid that just turned 24.”

In the end, Suarez said he’s comfortable in any position on the field.

“I can play everywhere – I’m just a ballplayer, different spots, it’s the same baseball,” Suarez said. “I just want to play every day, wherever they need me. If they need me at third base, I’ll play third base. In my mind, I want to play every day and take this opportunity and work hard.”