Reds Activate Eugenio Suarez, Send Hayes to IL for Back Issues

The Cincinnati Reds activated third baseman Eugenio Suarez from the 10-day injured list Tuesday while placing Ke’Bryan Hayes on the 10-day IL retroactive to May 21. Suarez returns after missing a month with an oblique strain, while Hayes deals with a lumbar bulging disc that has plagued him throughout his career.

Manager Terry Francona confirmed that Hayes has been dealing with back spasms that have affected his performance on the field. “I think the spasming has gotten to the point where it’s kind of getting in the way,” Francona said. The move allows Hayes time to recover fully and also focus on adjusting his offensive approach at the Reds’ Spring Training facility in Arizona.

Hayes, acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates at last year’s trade deadline, has struggled to find offensive consistency with the Reds. He is hitting just .142/.195/.225 with a 12 wRC+ in 128 plate appearances this season, the worst in baseball among players with at least 120 PA. While his defense remains elite, his offensive struggles have hurt the Reds’ lineup.

With Hayes sidelined, Sal Stewart will likely take over at third base. Stewart has already earned starts at the position and is expected to get the majority of the work. Suarez, who has started some games at third but is more likely to be used in the designated hitter role, is expected to provide a much-needed offensive boost.

Suarez signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Reds this past winter and has been productive before being sidelined. Before his injury, he hit .231/.300/.363 with three home runs in 100 plate appearances. His return should help a Reds offense that has struggled to produce consistently.

The Reds will need more production if they hope to remain competitive in the NL Central. They host the Pirates this weekend in a key division matchup, with first pitch set for Friday at 7:10 PM ET.