Eugenio Suarez looks like he could make the Cincinnati Reds and their fans forget about All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier sooner rather than later.
The Reds traded Frazier in the offseason without an experienced third baseman to replace him. The Reds could have kept Frazier for two more years. He was set to make $7.5-million this year and under club control for 2017 through his final year of salary arbitration eligibility.
The Reds decided to trade Frazier anyway. As a result, the Reds moved Suarez to third from shortstop, where he started 91 games last year for the Reds as the replacement for the injured Zack Cozart.
Suarez has shown in spring training so far that he is defensively up for the challenge at third. He has handled 14 chances error-free in 47 innings at third base this spring.
Suarez doesn’t have much experience playing third base. He played just one inning at third last year for the Reds and nine innings for the Detroit Tigers in 2014. Prior to that, Suarez hadn’t played third at all in the minors. He did start two games at third in the Venezuelan Summer League in 2010 and 33 games in 2009.
Suarez may defensively prove to be on par with Frazier. He might not be too far removed from Frazier offensively either.
Suarez had a 162-game projection of 21 homers and 80 RBI based on his 2015 numbers. He finished the 2015 season with 13 homers and 48 RBI in 398 plate appearances. He slashed .280/.315/.446.
Frazier developed into a true slugger his last two years with the Reds. He hit 29 long balls in 2014 and 35 last year. Prior to that, the home run production for Frazier looked a lot more like that of Suarez. Frazier hit 19 in 2012 and 2013. Frazier played in 128 games in 2012 and 150 games in 2013.
Suarez will never find himself in the position Frazier did by winning the All-Star game Home Run Derby in Cincinnati. He’ll never be expected to become the face of the franchise the way Frazier became.
But Suarez may just do his part to help soften the blow of losing Frazier forever in the field and at the plate.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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