Cincinnati Reds: Eugenio Suárez slugs his way to Player of the Month

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez took home Player of the Month honors for September. Suárez is the second member of the Reds to win that award this season.

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez was named the National League Player of the Month for September. Suárez was very deserving of this honor after a record-breaking season saw him clobber 49 home runs, the most ever by a Venezuelan born player and the most ever by a National League third baseman.

Suárez was on fire after the All-Star break. After being invited to partake in the All-Star festivities last season, Suárez missed out on that opportunity in 2019. However, Geno let the league know that he is still a force to be reckoned with and showed why with the 29 home runs he slugged after the Midsummer Classic.

During the month of September, Suárez shifted into another gear. The 28-year-old played in 25 games with 23 starts, hitting 10 home runs and knocking in 18. He slashed .337/.455/.747 and recorded 16 walks while smashing 13 extra base hits.

Suárez joins Aristides Aquino, who won Player of the Month honors for his performance during the month of August. The Cincinnati Reds rookie set the world on fire with his ridiculous display of power, smacking 14 home runs and racking up 33 RBIs.

Eugenio Suárez had two monumental moments during the month September. The first came on September 18th when Suárez sent a line drive over the ivy-covered wall at Wrigley Field, giving him 48 homers on the season. That big fly set the record for the most home runs ever by a Venezuelan born player, breaking the record set by Andrés Galarraga in 1996.

The Big Cat smacked 47 home runs, leading the league that season, while playing for the Colorado Rockies. Suárez has spoken many times about Galarraga being his mother’s favorite player while he was growing up. Suárez and his teammates celebrated the feat in the clubhouse after the game.

The next milestone was set on September 25th in front of the home fans at Great American Ball Park. A soaring line drive off pitcher Jordan Lyles of the Milwaukee Brewers landed in the seats, giving Suárez 49 for the season. That home run broke Mike Schmidt‘s record of 48 home runs, which was the most home runs ever by a National League third baseman. That record now belongs to Geno.

An incredible season for Suárez ends with an incredible honor. The Cincinnati Reds finished the season with back-to-back winners of the NL Player of the Month. Hopefully next season ends with a trip to the postseason. Cheers to Eugenio Suárez on a magnificent season.