GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Amid the mundane task of taking their physicals, the buzz in the Reds' clubhouse leveled up several notches on Tuesday morning when Eugenio Suárez walked in.
Players offered hugs as Suárez moved around the room. Whether or not they knew him from his previous tour with the Reds, all were happy to see the key free-agent pickup.
“It’s getting real. I’m very excited, very happy to see new faces but the same facility. Happy to be back here saying hello to everybody,” said Suárez, who reported early since he is going to play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. “They welcomed me really good. It seemed like they knew who I am. That means a lot to me.”
The 34-year-old Suárez, who hit 189 home runs for Cincinnati from 2015-21, was signed to a one-year, $15 million contract on Feb. 3. He was in the clubhouse for the first time since his tearful departure on March 14, 2022, when he and Jesse Winker were traded to the Mariners for four players during a rebuilding period.
Catcher Tyler Stephenson is the one of two current Reds to have played with Suárez during his previous tenure from 2020-21. Center fielder TJ Friedl logged 14 games in 2021.
“We know what he’s capable of,” Stephenson said. “I think, on and off the field, he is going to have so much value. One, the experience and I think just the presence, especially for the younger guys. He’s as good of a person. Everybody – Reds fans and here – knows who he is. He’s always going to come in with a smile on his face. He’s going to fit right in.”
When Suárez left the Reds, Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo were prospects on the verge of making their first Opening Day roster. Now both are mainstays in the rotation.
“He’s a great guy. Good energy, the track record speaks for itself,” Greene said. “So for him to be back here, I think it brings a lot of excitement not just for the players but the staff and the fans as well.”
Suárez also stopped into manager Terry Francona's office to say hello and chat.
“Seeing him that excited, it’s hard not to get fired up. I think I hugged him six times,” Francona said. “We all know his history. You see a guy like that, how excited he is to be here. It feels good, hell yeah.
“When you see somebody [get] received like that, it’s pretty special and it’s real.”
Early in camp, Francona planned to give Suárez reps at his usual third base, since he'll play there for Venezuela. During the season, he will be the designated hitter and play first base and some at third base.
Suárez wasn't just brought back for his winning personality. Offense was a team weakness over much of 2025.
In 159 games during an All-Star 2025 season for the Diamondbacks and Mariners, Suarez batted .228 with an .824 OPS, a career-high-tying 49 home runs and a career-high 118 RBIs.
“It’s a veteran bat, a veteran leader and someone that you know is going to show up and hit. He’s a really good player. I’m excited to have him,” catcher Jose Trevino said. “Even before that, we were going out and getting some arms, some of them I’m familiar with that I know are pretty good, and then they topped it off with Suarez. It’s huge.”
There is urgency for Cincinnati to take advantage of the window it has to contend. The club won 83 games and reached the postseason during a full season for the first time since 2013.
Now it needs to build from it and go farther.
“Forty-nine home runs would look good in Great American [Ball Park],” Stephenson said.
Elly De La Cruz, who will likely bat third ahead of Suárez, will get much-needed lineup protection. Rookie first baseman and top prospect Sal Stewart could potentially bat behind Suárez.
“It’s a presence in the middle of the order, and that usually makes people in front of you and behind you better,” Francona said. “We were mixing and matching so much last year and trying to protect Elly, and we were doing it with younger guys. And every time we did it … we struggled a little bit. It started to become a focal point for other teams.”
Stewart gets an extra benefit from Suárez as well. Because Reds Spring Training lockers are in numerical order, they are neighbors. Stewart wears No. 27, while Suárez has No. 28.
“I’m excited to get to know him and learn from him as much as I can,” Stewart said. “How fortunate am I to have somebody like that right next to my locker to talk to and ask questions? I’m super grateful.”