Eugenio Suárez Isn't Worried About His Slow Start After Two-Homer Night

Eugenio Suárez returned to Cincinnati on a one-year deal this past offseason, and the hope was that his bat would give the Reds lineup a serious boost.

Through 45 games, though, the numbers haven't matched the expectations.

The 34-year-old is hitting .222 with a .682 OPS and seven home runs heading into mid-June, and the Reds as a whole sit at 34-37 in fifth place in the NL Central.

Monday night felt different at Great American Ball Park.

Suárez launched two home runs in his first two plate appearances against the Mets, including a grand slam in the second inning, and he drove in six runs during a 12-0 blowout win that the team badly needed.

It was easily his best game since putting on a Reds uniform again.

Cincinnati had lost 12 of their previous 16 games before the series opener, so the timing of Suárez's explosion was about as good as it gets.

After the game, Suárez was asked about pushing through rough stretches over the course of a long season, and his response showed the maturity you only get from 13 years in the big leagues.

"I've been in this situation a lot, almost my whole career. I know how to handle it. The good example is just coming in every day and enjoy what I do, enjoy my process and knowing that at some point, my big day is going to be there. Like today, I had a big day. I'm not changing anything."

That attitude doesn't show up in a box score, but it goes a long way inside a young clubhouse.

Spencer Steer recently praised Suárez's leadership and said there is a lot of authenticity behind what Geno brings every single day.

The season stat line through 45 games won't jump off the page.

His .222 average and 85 OPS+ both fall below league average, and six RBI in the month of June before Monday wasn't the production Cincinnati expected when they signed him.

But Suárez has always been a hitter who runs hot and cold.

He mashed 49 home runs between Arizona and Seattle last season and owns 332 career home runs over 13 major league seasons.

When the bat catches fire, he changes the entire feel of a lineup.

Over his last six games, Suárez has gone 8-for-24 with three extra-base hits, and his at-bats have looked noticeably sharper.

Monday's two-homer performance against the Mets could be the start of a real run for him, and the Reds need exactly that if they want to make a push toward the Wild Card picture in the second half.

Cincinnati brought Suárez back because he's been through everything this game can throw at a hitter.

He's weathered all of it and come out productive on the other side nearly every time.

If Monday was the spark, the Reds are going to need that version of Suárez for the next three and a half months.