Mariners fans shouldn't laugh at Eugenio Suárez's home run goal with Reds

Eugenio Suárez was already a fan favorite prior to his dramatic grand slam in Game 5 of last year's ALCS versus the Blue Jays. However, while the grand slam didn't ultimately result in a trip to the World Series, he will always have a place in the hearts of everyone in Seattle after delivering one of the biggest moments in Mariners franchise history.

However, for all the love Suárez deservedly receives in the Pacific Northwest, it was generally agreed it was probably best for him to move on to pastures new again. The reality is he did little during his second tenure with the Mariners, given that his .189 batting average and and .682 OPS in 53 games would have been the worst of his Major League career over the course of a full campaign.

That said, the two-time All-Star had some interesting comments to make this week. Speaking from Goodyear, Arizona where his new/old team the Cincinnati Reds hold spring training, he said: "People yelling at me to hit 60 home runs in Cincinnati, or 50. It's really funny. But, I take it seriously. They believe in what I can do."

We can at least appreciate it if some Mariners fans initially chuckle at such a prospect, in large part due to Suárez's aforementioned struggles following his trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, delve a little deeper and it no longer represents such a laughing matter.

50 is a conceivable goal for Eugenio Suárez

The reality is that the 34-year-old finished just one home run away from 50 last season, when he tied his career-high of 49. Now consider that — and this will hurt — that one of the main reasons he didn't reach 50, was because of having to hit at T-Mobile Park regularly to close out the 2025 season.

Prior to the trade, Suárez had batted .248 with 36 home runs and a .897 OPS for the Diamondbacks, including .260, 24 and 1.011 respectively in 54 games at Chase Field. Now contrast this with after the trade, when he batted a pitiful .111, with six homers and a .479 OPS in 29 games at T-Mobile Park.

To further compound this and add more credence to Suárez's push for big home run numbers, as per Statcast he would have hit 54 as a member of the Reds last season. He has a home run swing and Great American Ball Park is a bandbox, with him having a career .260 batting average and .861 OPS there. (Both above his overall career averages of .246 and .792 respectively.)

Mariners fans should be fearful rather than laughing

As much as most (if not all) Mariners fans wish the Venezuela native all the best this season, it's still going to hurt if he does actually go off for 50-plus home runs. This will be even more so the case, if the M's slide down the home run rankings after finishing third in the majors last year.

On top of this is the nightmare scenario — yep, we're laying it on thick now — of if the Mariners find themselves with a need at third base again. This could conceivably happen if neither Cole Young nor Colt Emerson is truly ready, and the M's end up needing Brendan Donovan at second base.

Overall though, we have to reiterate again that it was best for everyone involved that Suárez moved on — probably more so in his case. However, as we wrote earlier this week there's an understandable feeling of FOMO among M's fans, which will only be painfully enhanced if he breaks out and makes another series run at 50 homers.