Suárez hopes momentum from WBC can carry over into 2nd stint with Reds

CINCINNATI (AP) — Eugenio Suárez provided the biggest moment in Venezuela's sports history with an RBI double in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic to beat the United States. As big as that was, he's ready for another challenge. Suárez's second stint with Cincinnati began Thursday as the Reds opened the season against the Boston Red Sox. Suárez was in the lineup at designated hitter and batted fifth. Suarez went 0 for 4, striking out three times in the Reds' 3-0 loss to Boston. "Fits like an old glove, even though I'm the new guy here," Suárez said before the game. "I don't need a map. I know the streets, I know the city." Suárez — who signed a one-year, $15 million contract before spring training — was with the Reds from 2015 through 2021. He hit 189 home runs during those seven seasons, including 49 in 2019. The 34-year old Suárez delivered the biggest moment of his baseball career in the ninth inning of the WBC title game on March 17 in Miami when his double into the left-field gap on a full-count changeup from Garrett Whitlock drove in pinch-runner Javier Sanoja for Venezuela's game-winning run to beat the U.S. 3-2. Suárez emotionally stood on second base with his outstretched arms pointing to the sky, a moment that is sure to be immortalized in some fashion throughout Venezuela. "Every time that I see my phone, I see videos, I see text message from my friends. It was one of the best experiences that I've had in my career," he said. The Reds will honor Suárez and assistant athletic trainer Tomas Vera for being part of Venezuela's WBC team during pregame ceremonies on Sunday. Suárez will also receive the Luis Aparicio Award from Reds Hall of Fame shortstop Dave Concepción on Saturday. The award is given to the Venezuelan player in the majors with the best performance in a season. Suárez was with Arizona and Seattle in 2025. He finished fifth in the majors with 49 home runs and fourth with a career high 118 RBIs. He batted .228 overall with an .824 OPS. Suárez is hoping that the momentum from the WBC will carry over as the Reds look to make the postseason in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2013. Cincinnati finished 83-79 last year in Terry Francona's first season as manager and earned the NL's final wild-card spot. The Reds should have a strong middle of the lineup with All-Star shortstop Elly de la Cruz batting third, rookie first baseman Sal Stewart at cleanup and Suárez hitting fifth. Suárez has 101 homers at Great American Ball Park and is one of five players with at least 100. The Reds' ballpark has averaged 2.67 home runs per game since it opened in 2003. That is the second-highest homer rate in the majors among ballparks to host at least 1,200 games. "I think we had a really good group," Suárez said. "We just have to believe each other and play hard every time." ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb