Eugenio Suarez seeking advice from Reds legend as massive change looms

When the Cincinnati Reds reunited with Eugenio Suárez earlier this month, they were excited about what his bat could do for their lineup. But what about his glove? Though the Reds signed Suárez to be the team's primary designated hitter in 2026, swinging the bat won't be his only focus this season.

Since spring training began, Suárez has putting a lot of time at third base — the position he'll be playing for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. But Geno is also gathering reps across the diamond at first base. According to Cincinnati reporter Charlie Goldsmith, Suárez has been going through a full set of first base drills very early in the morning.

Suárez has spent his entire Major League career on the left side of the infield, but the aging veteran knows that in order to last in this game, you must be adaptable. He put up some of the worst defensive numbers of his career in 2025 (-6 DRS and -10 OAA), and the Reds have a Gold Glove Award-winning infielder in Ke'Bryan Hayes manning the hot corner.

Though Sal Stewart is expected to open the season as the Reds' starting first baseman, having Suárez behind him provides Cincinnati with some added depth at the cold corner. While Freddie Benevides and other members of the Reds coaching staff are helping Suárez make the shift to first base, he's planning to touch base with one of his former teammates in the near future as well.

Eugenio Suárez plans to call former Reds great Joey Votto

Though he hasn't done it yet, Suárez plans to call future Reds Hall of Famer Joey Votto and garner some advice about playing first base. Votto spent his entire Major League career in Cincinnati and won a Gold Glove at the position back in 2011. The Reds legend hung up his spikes back in 2024 and will be a member of the NBC Sports broadcast team during the upcoming season.

Suárez and Votto were teammates from 2015-2021, and both players went to the All-Star Game in 2018. During their last season together (2021), they combined for 67 home runs and 178 RBI.

It remains to be seen how much the Reds plan to deploy Suárez at first in 2026. In addition to Stewart, Cincinnati also has Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer on the 40-man roster, not to mention non-roster invites Nathaniel Lowe, Cam Collier, and Michael Toglia.

Perhaps Geno can place a call and see if Votto would like to make a trip out to Goodyear for old time's sake. Suárez might not be the only Reds' first baseman who stands to benefit from a little extra tutelage courtesy of the six-time All-Star.