Following a May 8 MRI, Eugenio Suárez is about 50% better as he continues his recovery from a left oblique injury, Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said.
And how do they know the value of Suárez’s improvement can be quantified as “about 50%?”
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“They went to school for a long time,” Francona joked. Francona went on to explain his understanding of how doctors and team personnel arrived at that number.
In practical terms, what’s happened recently with Suárez is that he took 50 lighter-strength swings in the batting-cage on May 7. As of May 8, he decided he’ll scale back the swinging while continuing fielding and base-running, Francona said. The hope is that reducing his quantity of swings will encourage faster healing,
Suárez said his cuts in the batting cage were at about 60%-70% strength.
“I don’t feel anything. That’s why we’re going to look at it (May 8) and see how it’s (looking),” Suárez said. “If it looks good I might go harder than that. That’s the plan.”
Eugenio Suárez, shown against the Minnesota Twins April 17, is working his way back from an oblique injury.
Suárez participated in fielding drills prior to the Reds’ May 8 home game against the Houston Astros.
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“He’s allowed to (swing) today,” Francona said. “I think by his own − he thinks maybe if he cools it for a few days, maybe that’ll help.”
In the interim, Suárez will continue fielding and base running work, and the Reds will continue on minus their marquee offseason free-agent signing. Suárez hasn’t seen the field since he was scratched from the Reds-Tigers game April 24 with the oblique ailment.
Cincinnati went 4-2 on that homestand through April 30, and then hit the road for a seven game road trip that saw the club go 0-7 and suffer more key injuries.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies catcher Brett Sullivan (26) tags out Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) in the first inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies catcher Brett Sullivan (26) tags out Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) in the first inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brandon Williamson (55) pitches in the first inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) hits a double in the first inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) fields a ground ball before throwing out Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield (7) in the first inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brandon Williamson (55) prepares to pitch in the first inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brandon Williamson (55) speaks with Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino (35) in the first inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns (26) watches his baseball after hitting a 3-run triple in the first inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes (3) mishandles the throw from home plate as Colorado Rockies catcher Brett Sullivan (26) reaches third base on a 3-run triple in the first inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (11) prepares to pitch in the first inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) hits a base hit in the first inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (14) fields a ground ball before throwing out Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) at home plate in the first inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield (7) hits a base hit in the third inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds center fielder TJ Friedl (29) catches a fly ball in the third inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) leaps over Colorado Rockies center fielder Brenton Doyle (9) during a pick off attempt in the third inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Colorado Rockies second baseman Willi Castro (3) gestures to the dugout after hitting an RBI double in the third inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies center fielder Brenton Doyle (9) high fives teammates after scoring on a Colorado Rockies second baseman Willi Castro (3) double in the third inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino (35) catches a foul ball for an out in the third inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (14) throws out Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) in the third inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds pitcher Luis Mey (47) pitches in the fourth inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies second baseman Willi Castro (3) throws to first for an out in the fourth inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Luis Mey (47) pitches in the fifth inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies designated hitter Hunter Goodman (15) gestures to the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies designated hitter Hunter Goodman (15) gestures after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (11) pitches in the fifth inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies second baseman Willi Castro (3) throws out a runner at first in the fifth inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jose Franco (74) pitches in the sixth inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jose Franco (74) pitches in the seventh inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield (7) hits a double in the seventh inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies designated hitter Hunter Goodman (15) gestures after hitting a 2-run home run in the seventh inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies designated hitter Hunter Goodman (15) celebrates after hitting a 2-run home run in the seventh inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Cincinnati Reds center fielder TJ Friedl (29) catches a fly ball at the wall in the seventh inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson (30) rounds the bases after hitting a 2-run home run in the ninth inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Colorado Rockies second baseman Willi Castro (3) stands in the dugout in the eighth inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) throws to first for an out in the eighth inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
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Photos from Colorado Rockies at Cincinnati Reds, April 29
Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino (35) pitches in the ninth inning of the MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
The injury is a new experience for Suárez, who said he’s never had an injury in his entire career like the one he’s currently battling.
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“Never. This is the first time I’ve had something like that in my career. Never had it before,” Suárez said. “It feels very weird to me because I never had it. At the same time, I enjoy the process, and I’m doing my best to be back soon and working hard to be back strong.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds’ Eugenio Suárez is ‘about 50%’ better. Terry Francona explained how