Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suárez left Monday's game against the Detroit Tigers after being hit on the hand with a pitch, but appeared to escape serious injury.
After the game, Suárez told reporters that X-Rays on his left index finger were negative.
A significant injury had the potential to reshape the top of the MLB trade market ahead of the baseball's July 31 trade deadline. Suárez is the top-rated player on the MLB trade market, per Yahoo Sports' Russell Dorsey.
In the top of the ninth inning, Suárez was hit on the left hand by a 96 mph fastball thrown by Tigers closer Will Vest, with the force causing his helmet to fly off. Suárez knelt down and grabbed his hand before eventually leaving the game. Blaze Alexander ran in his place.
The Tigers held a 5-1 lead when Suárez left the game. Vest notched the next two outs, and Detroit won the game by the same score.
Suárez, 34, was named to his second career All-Star game amid a career season at the plate. Through Monday, he was slashing .247/.319/.579 with 36 home runs and 87 RBI.
His home run tally is already the second-highest of his career (49 in 2019) and put him in a fourth-place tie Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber in the MLB home run race. His 87 RBI were the most in baseball.
The Diamondbacks acquired Suárez in a trade from the Seattle Mariners after the 2023 season in which they advanced to the World Series against the champion Texas Rangers. Arizona posted a winning record (89-73) but failed to make the playoffs the following season.
The Diamondbacks have fallen further out of contention this season. They dropped to 51-56 with Monday's loss and are projected to be sellers as the trade deadline approaches. Suárez is expected to garner high interest from contenders seeking to add a power bat to their lineup.
As long as imaging doesn't reveal another injury from Monday's hit-by-pitch, he likely still will.
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