Reds’ Eugenio Suárez set for CT scan after pitch-hit hand forces early exit

Cincinnati’s Eugenio Suárez left early after being hit by a pitch and requiring examination on his left hand, with the Reds manager Terry Francona indicating that a follow-up evaluation is needed. In the team’s 9-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Suárez was forced to depart the game after the incident, and X-rays did not provide a clear answer on the extent of the injury, according to Francona.

Francona told reporters that the next step will be a CT scan. The plan, as described by Francona, is for Suárez to travel with the Reds to Milwaukee before undergoing the more detailed imaging, an approach that suggests the team wants to confirm whether there is any fracture or other structural damage before adjusting their immediate plans.

The timing matters for Cincinnati because the Reds are scheduled to begin a four-game series in Milwaukee. Suárez’s availability for that opening stretch is now uncertain, pending the CT scan results and how his left hand responds to rest and treatment.

The situation also underscores a common baseball reality when a hit batsman exits with a suspected hand injury: initial X-rays can be “inconclusive,” and small or subtle issues may only become clear after more advanced imaging. That is why teams often delay definitive decision-making until after CT results, particularly when the hand is the type of area that affects grip, bat control, and overall comfort at the plate and in the field.

For the Reds, the immediate priority is information, not timelines. Until the CT scan clarifies the injury, Cincinnati will likely have to consider short-term options for lineup depth and in-game flexibility, especially with multiple games in succession against the Brewers.

For Suárez, the next 24 to 48 hours carry the most weight in determining whether this turns into a brief absence or a longer interruption. What to watch next is the reported CT outcome and any subsequent updates on whether he can resume baseball activities or needs additional time before returning to game action. In the meantime, his status remains tied to medical clarity rather than hope or schedule-only assumptions.