Detroit Tigers trade target Eugenio Suárez gets 'good news' after scary hit by pitch
All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suárez is expected to be traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks before the MLB trade deadline at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 31. The Detroit Tigers are among several teams showing interest.
He is the No. 1 hitter on the trade block.
On Monday, July 28, Suárez scared everyone when he was hit on the right index finger by a 95.6 mph fastball from Tigers reliever Will Vest in the ninth inning at Comerica Park, but he said X-rays were negative for a fracture.
"The good thing right now is we did the X-ray, and it was negative," Suárez said after the Tigers' 5-1 win over the Diamondbacks in Monday's opener of a three-game series. "We got more tests to do tomorrow. Right now, it's painful, obviously. The good news is the X-ray was negative. We'll see tomorrow what else they're going to do. Right now, I will do my best to try to be back soon."
Suárez will receive another scan Tuesday, July 29, to further evaluate his right index finger.
It's unclear when he will return to the lineup.
"I'll be back soon," Suárez said.
The impact of the hit by pitch was serious enough that Suárez — who usually tries to stay in the game in these situations, as he did during the All-Star Game — exited almost immediately after a visit from athletic trainer Ryan DiPanfilo.
"When the trainer came back, he touched it right there, and the pain was so bad," Suárez said. "It felt so painful right after that. That's why I came out of the game really quick."
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo didn't think the hit by pitch was intentional.
"I don't think Vest is trying to hit anybody there, let alone one of the most impressive hitters in MLB," Lovullo said. "You don't want to do those types of things and get those types of players off the field. He is a great story this season. I don't think there was any intent there."
Suárez, 34, is hitting .248 with 36 home runs, an MLB-leading 87 RBIs, 29 walks and 116 strikeouts in 105 games during the 2025 season, all while playing more than 870 innings at third base.
He would be an upgrade for the Tigers, who have been employing Zach McKinstry as their primary third baseman.
"You see your athlete get hit, and his reaction is not great," Lovullo said. "He's very tough, and he never, ever winces, and when he does, there's something that is clearly wrong."
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The 12-year veteran began his career with the Tigers, signing out of Venezuela in 2008 and making his MLB debut in 2014. He then joined the Cincinnati Reds (2015-21), Seattle Mariners (2022-23) and Diamondbacks (2024-25).
"I really hope Geno is OK," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "That was a nasty hit by pitch. I don't know what's going to come with that, but I know he's well-loved in this organization, in that organization, really every organization he's been in. That was an ugly sound at the end for a very popular and talented player. Let's all pray for the best."
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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