Eugenio Suárez will miss the Cincinnati Reds’ final two games against the San Diego Padres at Great American Ball Park while he handles a major off-field milestone: taking the naturalization test to become an American citizen.
Reds announcer Jim Day revealed the news during the television broadcast of Cincinnati’s Aug. 31 loss to San Diego. Suárez, a native of Venezuela who lives in Miami, is scheduled to take the test this week.
Terry Francona said Sept. 1 that the process has the full support of the club and that the timing was set by the government, not the player.
"Very (cool)," Francona told reporters Sept. 1.
"I saw him when we were on our last trip, he was practicing his questions. He knew them a lot better than I did.
I just told him last night congratulations and good luck. It's a pretty neat thing."
Francona also explained that Suárez isn’t choosing the date himself. The test includes an English section in which applicants must read, write and speak basic English, along with a civics portion covering American history, U.S. government and civics, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
"The timing of it, if people are wondering, it's not his timing," said Francona, who added the team fully supported Suárez missing two games for the test. "As you can imagine dealing with the government and all that stuff, you go when they tell you because you don't wanna miss it."
With September rosters expanding to 28 players, the Reds filled Suárez’s spot by calling up infielder Juan Brito from Triple-A Louisville. Elly De La Cruz was in the DH slot because of quad tightness, giving Cincinnati another reason to lean on depth.
Brito, acquired from the Cleveland Guardians for cash considerations before the trade deadline, gives the Reds another switch-hitting option who can play second base and third base.
"I know him (Brito) a little bit. He came over from Colorado, I think it was my last year in Cleveland," Francona said.
Brito turns 25 later this month and already made his big-league debut earlier this season with Cleveland. He hit .176 in 15 games for the Guardians, with four doubles and three RBI. At Triple-A Louisville, he posted a .232 average with five extra-base hits and 11 RBI in 22 games.
He was in the lineup Sept. 1, batting seventh and playing second base in his Reds debut.
"It's something that I've been working for. I'm just happy to be here," Brito said through a translator Sept.
- "Just have fun, work hard and give it everything I got."
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