The Reds designated hitter left Sunday's loss after taking a fastball to the hand, and initial X-rays came back inconclusive.
Cincinnati Reds designated hitter Eugenio Suárez left Sunday's 9-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates after being hit by a Mitch Keller fastball on his left hand during the sixth inning.
The 34-year-old dropped his bat and grimaced in pain before staying in to run the bases, but Nathaniel Lowe replaced him as a pinch hitter when his spot came up in the eighth.
After the game, Reds manager Terry Francona gave an update that offered little comfort to a team dealing with a long list of injuries.
"Um, he got an x-ray. It was inconclusive. So, we're going to get a CT scan in the morning," Francona said. "It swelled up really rapidly. I think the trainer's hope was it maybe hit a blood vessel. He's very tender. We'll get more information tomorrow."
What Suárez Means to This Lineup
The timing could not be worse for Cincinnati, because just one day earlier Suárez delivered one of the biggest moments of the Reds' season by hitting a game-winning three-run homer in the ninth inning of Saturday's 9-7 win over the Pirates.
It is exactly why the Reds brought him back this offseason.
Through 55 games this season, Suárez is batting .208 with a .652 OPS, eight home runs and 29 RBIs.
The numbers are not flashy, but his power from the middle of the order and his veteran presence have been important for a team that needs every bit of production it can find right now.
Why the Reds Cannot Afford to Lose Him
Cincinnati sits at 39-43 on the season, last place in the NL Central and 11.5 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.
It has been a frustrating year defined by injuries, and Suárez has already dealt with his own setback after missing nearly a month from April 23 to May 22 with a left oblique strain.
Losing Suárez again would be a serious blow, especially with the roster already stretched thin from other injuries.
Outfielder Blake Dunn hit the injured list with a right elbow sprain earlier on Sunday, and star shortstop Elly De La Cruz also tweaked his left ankle during the same game against Pittsburgh.
For a team that entered the year with real playoff hopes after making the Wild Card last season, the health issues keep piling up at the worst time.
What Comes Next
Suárez underwent a CT scan Monday morning in Milwaukee, where the Reds opened a four-game series against the Brewers, and the results came back clean.
He said afterward that he is "ready to go," putting to rest what looked like it could have been another extended absence for a team that has already lost too many players to injury this season.
It is a welcome break for a lineup sitting four games under .500 that could not afford to lose another bat.
The Reds have spent 2026 waiting for their roster to get healthy, and while Suárez dodging a fracture does not fix everything, it at least gives Cincinnati one less problem heading into a critical stretch.
