D-backs’ Eugenio Suárez Avoids Injury Following HBP at All-Star Game
Interested trade suitors watched anxiously as Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez was hit by a pitch on the hand during the eighth inning of Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.
Suárez was struck on his left pinky finger by a 96.3 mph fastball from Chicago White Sox hurler Shane Smith, who entered the contest to begin the bottom half of the eighth. The two-time All-Star dropped to the ground while in visible pain, but he remained in the game after visiting with team trainers.
The 33-year-old took the field for the top of the ninth and completed a slick barehanded play – albeit with his right hand rather than his left – on a soft grounder just minutes following his hit-by-pitch, retiring Kansas City Royals infielder Maikel Garcia for the first out of the inning.
After the American League tied the score at six runs apiece in the bottom half, both clubs headed to the first-ever swing-off to decide the Midsummer Classic, which Suárez didn’t participate in. He was originally pencilled in as one of the NL’s three hitters in the tiebreaker, but was ultimately replaced by Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers.
The NL defeated the AL, 4-3 in the tiebreaker swing-off, backed by Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber going a perfect 3-for-3 in home runs. It was just their second victory in the last 12 All-Star Games, with their only other win coming in Seattle during the 2023 festivities.
Following the electrifying conclusion, Suárez was sent for X-rays that returned negative, per manager Dave Roberts, as relayed by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
That brought a huge sigh of relief for not only the D-backs but for any playoff contender seeking an offensive upgrade ahead of the July 31st trade deadline. Had Suárez suffered a significant injury, it likely would’ve taken the top available bat off the market.
Granted, Arizona hasn’t officially decided to sell just yet. But, at 47-50 and 5.5 games back of the final NL wild-card seed, most expect them to become one of the more lucrative sellers by the end of the month.
Suárez, who’s enjoying a career year in the final season of his eight-year, $79-million contract, headlines an intriguing list of pending free agents for the D-backs. Other notables include first baseman Josh Naylor and starters Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.
The veteran third baseman ranks fourth in the majors in home runs (31), trailing only Shohei Ohtani (32), Aaron Judge (35) and Cal Raleigh (38). He’s also driven in 78 runs while slashing .250 /.320/.569 with a 142 wRC+ (100 league average) in 95 games, worth 2.8 fWAR.
Several clubs would benefit from adding Suárez’s power to the middle of their lineup for the stretch run. However, the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners (whom he spent two seasons with in 2022-23) are rumoured to be the front-runners for his services.
Suárez should garner immense interest if the D-backs decide to sell, with other potential suitors including the Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: Justin Lorenzo. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.