Reds’ Suarez still recovering from offseason pool accident
Eugenio Suarez was playing in a swimming pool with his children at home in Pinecrest, Fla., and decided to dive into the shallow half.
The Cincinnati Reds third baseman hit the bottom of the pool and wound up with a shoulder injury that has set him back in spring training and left his availability uncertain for opening day.
“I tried to dive in headfirst,” Suarez said. “My hands hit first first and then my shoulder felt like a pop.”
Suarez tore cartilage in his right shoulder and had surgery Jan. 28. For the start of spring training, Suarez was limited to conditioning work while his throwing shoulder healed.
He’s progressed to taking infield practice, playing catch and hitting in the batting cage. It’s unclear how long it will be until he can play in a game.
“I feel better every day,” Suarez said.
The Reds are counting upon the 28-year-old to be a top contributor in an offense that was near the bottom of the NL in runs last season.
Suarez’s 49 homers last year were a record for a NL third baseman and for a player from Venezuela. He finished behind the Mets’ Pete Alonso for the home run lead.
Suarez had begun getting ready for the season in January when he hurt the shoulder, so the rest of his body is in good shape.
“I was working hard,” he said. “I already had three weeks working on my body. When the accident happened, it wasn’t as bad.”
Dodgers
National League MVP Cody Bellinger was scratched from the Los Angeles starting lineup for a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds in Goodyear, Ariz. The outfielder took part in a charity event on Sunday night at a Topgolf facility in
Scottsdale, and a video showed him hitting a long drive off a tee. Golf swings aren’t believed to be the reason for his injury, according to manager Dave Roberts. With the Dodgers off Tuesday and playing a night game Wednesday, Roberts isn’t rushing to get Bellinger back to action. “We’ll see how he responds. But it’s not imperative that he plays in that night game, either,” Roberts said.
Also, David Price struck out three of the four batters he retired in 1⅓ innings of his spring debut with Los Angeles. Price, acquired with Mookie Betts from Boston, appeared for the first time since undergoing wrist surgery in September to help improve his circulation and is throwing painfree.
Nationals
Joe Ross’ streak of 10 consecutive batters retired to start spring training ended in a 3-2 win against Miami when Matt Joyce singled in the second inning. Ross has pitched five scoreless innings.
Elsewhere
Hall of Fame third baseman Chipper Jones has joined the ESPN lineup. The former Atlanta Braves star will work as a major league analyst, primarily on weeknight and holiday games. He’ll debut on opening day when San Francisco plays at Dodger Stadium on March 26. “He is a charismatic storyteller with an authentic and fun-loving personality,” senior coordinating producer Phil Orlins said.