Suarez working hard to improve defense at 3B

CINCINNATI — Eugenio Suarez’s offense has been one of the bigger bright spots during this difficult early portion of the Reds’ season. The first-year third baseman very much wants his defense to be on par with his hitting.

“I have to be better every day,” Suarez said on Thursday.

Suarez had just returned from the clubhouse after an extended early session in the field with coach Freddie Benavides and teammate Ivan De Jesus Jr. Hitting coach Don Long hit ground ball after ground ball to Suarez while Benavides provided instruction.

On Wednesday night, during an 8-7 loss in 12 innings to the Indians, Suarez committed two errors that made him the Major League leader among third basemen with nine errors. He misplayed a Mike Napoli ball hit his way with one out in the sixth inning for a run-scoring error and made another with two outs in the 10th with Yan Gomes batting that ended up not costing the Reds.

A shortstop his whole career, Suarez took over at third base this season after the Reds traded Todd Frazier.

“I don’t think he’s close to being a finished product, simply because he really is a shortstop playing third base,” Reds manager Bryan Price …

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