CLEVELAND – The latest MRI this week on Cincinnati Reds slugger Eugenio Suárez’s injured left oblique showed enough progress that Reds officials have started talking about a minor-league rehab assignment for him.
Nothing’s been scheduled, and the team continues to proceed with caution.
But Suárez took batting practice and infield and ran the bases Friday before the Reds opened their three-game Ohio Cup series against the Guardians at Progressive Field.
“It showed really good healing,” manager Terry Francona said of the follow-up MRI Suárez got before the team left home Thursday for the road trip. “You also go on (symptoms), and he hasn’t had any. So they’re trying to turn him loose a little bit but also do it somewhat smartly. Trying not to go too far too fast.”
That said, “If everything goes the way we hope,” Francona said, “he’ll start hitting off the velocity machine, maybe even (Saturday).”
It was welcomed news for a team that has struggled to score runs much of this season and that has been without their $15 million, power-hitting free agent – who hit 49 home runs last year – for more than three weeks.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How close is Reds slugger Eugenio Suárez to return from oblique injury?