Eugenio Suárez’s time away from the Reds had nothing to do with injury or roster drama. The Cincinnati infielder was out Tuesday and Wednesday because he was going through the naturalization process, and according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, Reds media relations received word that Suárez passed his citizenship test Wednesday in Miami.
For Suárez, 35, it was a meaningful milestone. He was born in Venezuela and has spent more than a decade in Major League Baseball in the United States. The unusual absence came with a special payoff, and it marks an important step toward officially becoming a United States citizen.
Suárez has long been a familiar and popular name in Cincinnati. He spent seven seasons with the Reds during his first run with the organization before eventually returning to the club.
While Suárez handled his off-field moment, Emilio Pagán kept stacking up saves. The right-hander has now reached 20 saves for the second straight season and the third time in his 10-year career. Entering Wednesday’s game, he had converted each of his last 14 save chances, which is the longest streak of his career.
The Reds’ overall picture has tightened since their fast start after the break. Cincinnati entered Wednesday at 23-21 since the All-Star break, but the surge has cooled.
The club won 13 of its first 19 games in the second half and has since gone 10-15. They are seven games under .500 overall, seven games back of the final NL Wild Card spot, and still 20 games behind in the NL Central after briefly sitting in first place earlier this season.
Hector Rodríguez has also shown some real life after a rough introduction. After making his Major League debut on Aug. 4, he opened with just 3-for-31 over his first 11 games.
Since then, the rookie has flipped the script, hitting .359/.419/.718 with a 1.137 OPS, four home runs, and 28 total bases over his last 39 at-bats. He also comes into Wednesday’s game on a 10-game on-base streak.
In Other News...
Reds Cannot Afford Another Costly Delay With Sal Stewart
Sal Stewart has quickly become one of the key names in the Reds 2026 outlook, and his rise has only sharpened the clubs offseason priorities. With the roster still carrying plenty of question marks, Cincinnati needs to think beyond the immediate season and address the kind of player who can anchor the next wave, especially after seeing how quickly a promising young core can become expensive to manage.
The cautionary tale here is obvious for the Reds, who already learned how a delayed extension can leave a team chasing the clock instead of controlling it. Stewarts situation now sits at the center of that larger conversation, with the added complication of a possible collective bargaining dispute clouding the path to 2027 and making every long-term decision feel even more urgent. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Add Veteran Infield Depth After Orlando Arcias Uneven Season
The Reds have dipped into the veteran market for some extra infield insurance, signing Orlando Arcia to a minor league contract and sending him to Triple-A Louisville. At 32, Arcia brings plenty of big league experience with him, having played parts of 11 MLB seasons and built a reputation as a versatile defender who can handle multiple spots around the infield.
It is a low-risk move for Cincinnati, but one that could matter if the club needs another steady glove or some roster flexibility down the road. Arcias path to the organization has already included time with the Twins and a stop in the Mexican League before landing in the Reds system, and his 2023 All-Star season with Atlanta is a reminder of the ceiling he has shown at his best. [Read more 🡒]
Joey Votto Just Reignited A Bigger Reds Debate
Joey Votto spent Sunday night back in the Reds conversation, this time not in uniform but in the ESPN booth for a Sunday Night Baseball matchup between Cincinnati and the Cubs. Alongside Anthony Rizzo, Votto talked openly about how much the Reds still mean to him, and he made clear that he still sees the value of veteran voices helping young players navigate the majors.
For a franchise that has leaned so heavily on youth in recent years, that message landed with extra weight. It also reopened a broader question around Vottos place in Cincinnatis future, with his connection to the organization strong enough to fuel plenty of speculation about a possible front office path down the road, even if nothing is actually in motion yet. [Read more 🡒]