Reds' Eugenio Suárez is 'about 50%' better. Terry Francona explained how

Yahoo Sports4h ago20 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Eugenio Suárez is reportedly 50% better in his recovery from a left oblique injury, according to Reds manager Terry Francona. Suárez has adjusted his training by reducing the number of swings while maintaining fielding and base-running activities.

Key points

Eugenio Suárez is about 50% better in recovery.
Terry Francona provided updates on Suárez's condition.
Suárez has reduced his swings to encourage faster healing.
He took 50 lighter-strength swings in the batting cage.
Suárez's swings are at 60%-70% strength.

Mentioned in this story

Cincinnati RedsTerry Francona

Eugenio Suárez

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%?"

"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.

"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.