The Diamondbacks remain steadfast with playing Eugenio Suárez for the majority of starts at third base. Brought in to stabilize the position and provide power to the middle of their lineup, Suárez has struggled at the plate.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In 75 games this season, he’s batting .192 with six home runs, 31 RBI, and a .584 OPS. It’s worth noting that Suárez is a better hitter in the second half, with a career .770 OPS in the first half and .810 in the second. However, barring a miraculous turnaround at the plate he’s unlikely to improve enough to make a positive impact in the lineup.
As a result of his struggles, rookie Blaze Alexander is starting to get more playing time at the hot corner. The current split is about four starts per week for Suárez and two starts for Alexander. His defense at the position is a work in progress and he has major platoon splits. Against left-handed pitching, he’s putting up a .328/.400/.493 slash line in 76 plate appearances vs. a .222/.276/.284 slash against righties.
One alternate solution would be to move forward with a more sure-handed option and have Kevin Newman man the position. Newman did an admirable job of filling in at shortstop while Geraldo Perdomo was on the injured list with a meniscus injury. With Perdomo healthy again, his playing time has shrunk to a couple of starts a week at the position.
The team’s internal options at the position beyond the current 26-man roster are relatively bleak. Andrés Chaparro is the primary third baseman with Triple-A Reno but has zero major league experience, which doesn’t help in a situation where the team is looking for more reliable solutions than Suárez. Top prospect Jordan Lawlar suffered another injury that requires a lengthy absence, with a hamstring strain sidelining him until August.
Short of being able to find a trade partner for the position, there isn’t much the Diamondbacks can do. With a congested Wild Card race a month out from the trade deadline, finding a trade partner will be very difficult. Their best options are to either hope that Suárez will eventually turn it around at the plate or turn it over to a committee involving Alexander, Perdomo, and Newman.
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Michael McDermott covers the Arizona Diamondbacks and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @MichaelMcDMLB
