Reds sending Geno for MRI to see if rehab can ramp up

The Reds are sending Eugenio Suárez for an MRI to determine whether his left oblique strain has healed enough for him to resume a more active rehab ramp-up.

MLB.com reported that the scan is scheduled for Friday morning in Cincinnati. If the imaging looks good, Suárez could move closer to full baseball activity after spending the past couple of weeks on the injured list.

Suárez first went on the 10-day injured list on April 25 after the Reds identified the problem as a low-grade left oblique strain. At that point, team officials were hoping he could be re-imaged after a few days if his symptoms improved.

Reporting earlier this week said Suárez had begun light baseball-related work, including taking grounders and batting-cage flips. The MRI is now the next checkpoint in deciding whether he can advance to the next phase of his recovery.

The team has not said whether the scan will immediately lead to batting practice or a rehab assignment. For now, the Reds are waiting to see whether the strain has healed enough to let his workload increase.

Suárez's progress matters because he is one of Cincinnati's key offensive players, and his return would help deepen the lineup once he is ready.