The Cincinnati Reds announced that they have placed infielder Ke’Bryan Hayes on the 10-day injured list following a lumbar bulging disc. The team also announced that in his place, infielder Eugenio Suarez was activated from the 10-day injured list, making his return to the team since being placed on the injured list in late April.
Suarez signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Reds during the offseason, the team that saw Suarez flourish from 2015 to 2021. The 34-year-old third baseman became a free agent at the conclusion of the 2025 MLB season after spending the year with the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Mariners.
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Suarez suffered a left oblique strain during batting practice near the end of April and has been on the injured list ever since. His recovery has been going very well, according to the team, and he’s even been able to play some rehabilitation games while awaiting his potential return to the roster.
Hayes’ injury might have ended up moving Suarez’s return a bit earlier than expected, but the team will be more than eager to have Suarez back into the lineup. Before Suarez went down with injury, he posted a .231 batting average, hitting three home runs and 11 RBIs across 25 games.
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The Reds will hope that Suarez can match what he did during the 2025 MLB season, where he hit 49 home runs, tying the most home runs he’s ever hit in a single season in his career. Suarez previously hit 49 home runs with the Reds during the 2019 MLB season.
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez (28) waves to fans after the victory over the Boston Red Sox© Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Hayes, on the other hand, finds himself dealing with a back injury that has been an issue to him for the past few years. Since 2022, Hayes has been on the injured list eight times due to back injuries.
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Hayes was traded to the Reds from the Pittsburgh Pirates in July 2025. He made 52 appearances for the Reds in the season and posted a .234 batting average.
Before being sidelined with the injury, he 29-year-old was recording a career-low .142 batting average through 44 games played. Hayes has hit two home runs and five RBIs this season.
Since joining the league in 2020, Hayes’ batting average has decreased with every passing season, and the back injuries have played a major role in his performances. The Reds might lose out on Hayes for a short period of time, but they will look to work on his condition in order to bring him back onto the roster as healthy as possible.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.