Cincinnati Reds: Eugenio Suarez should be in the Home Run Derby

The Cincinnati Reds have three infielders selected to this year’s All-Star Game. While all three are capable of going yard, Eugenio Suarez should be in the Home Run Derby.

The Cincinnati Reds will be well represented in the 89th All-Star Game. Joey Votto, Scooter Gennett, and Eugenio Suarez are all headed to the Midsummer Classic next week. But, one of the biggest events of the All-Star festivities is the Home Run Derby. Suarez would be the perfect candidate from the Cincinnati trio of All-Stars to participate.

Suarez has 19 home runs on the season, which is sixth in the National League. He trails Nolan Arenado and Jesus Aguilar who lead the NL with 22 homers apiece. Bryce Harper, who’s all but threw his name into the Home Run Derby, has 21 big flys this season. Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt and Los Angeles’ Max Muncy, who’s already committed to participate in the event, round out the Top 5 in the National League.

Two big-name sluggers from the American League have already withdrawn their names from consideration. Both Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees have said thanks, but no thanks to participating in the Home Run Derby.

Joey Votto certainly has the type of power to participate in an event like this. However, Votto explained why he turned down an opportunity to participate in the 2017 Home Run Derby. He the said event requires a style of hitting that he typically never does.

Enter Eugenio Suarez. While Votto is the Reds cerebral hitter, who calculates and studies every aspect of every pitch. Suarez goes up with one focus and that’s to see the ball fly out of the ballpark. Suarez has 68 RBIs on the season and his on-base plus slugging is .995.

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Stanton and Judge were the Top 2 in the Home Run Derby bracket last season. Miguel Sano, who went into the finals of the event with Judge last year, is off to a rough start power-wise this season. Through 27 games, Sano has only 7 homers. Suarez would be fun to watch in the Home Run Derby. If chosen, he’d be sure to launch a boatload of balls out of Nationals Park.