Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez is making steady progress in his recovery from a left oblique strain, with manager Terry Francona revealing that the slugger is now "about 50% better" following a May 8 MRI. It's a promising update for a Cincinnati team that has sorely missed his presence in the lineup.

When asked how medical staff arrived at that specific percentage, Francona couldn't resist a lighthearted jab. "They went to school for a long time," he joked, before explaining that the figure comes from careful monitoring of Suárez's activity and response to treatment.

The recovery process has been methodical. On May 7, Suárez took 50 swings at reduced intensity in the batting cage, estimating his effort level at about 60-70% strength. Encouragingly, he reported feeling no discomfort during those swings. "I don't feel anything," Suárez said. "That's why we're going to look at it and see how it's looking. If it looks good, I might go harder than that. That's the plan."

However, the team is taking a cautious approach. Suárez has decided to scale back his swinging for a few days while continuing fielding drills and base-running work. The hope is that reducing his swing volume will allow the oblique to heal more quickly. "He thinks maybe if he cools it for a few days, maybe that'll help," Francona noted.

Suárez participated in fielding drills before the Reds' May 8 home game against the Houston Astros, a positive sign that his range of motion is improving. But the club continues to navigate life without their marquee offseason free-agent signing, who hasn't played since being scratched from an April 24 game against the Detroit Tigers.

The timing of the injury has been particularly challenging for Cincinnati. After a solid 4-2 homestand through April 30, the Reds hit the road for a seven-game trip that turned disastrous—going 0-7 while suffering additional key injuries. Getting Suárez back at full strength would provide a major boost as the team looks to turn things around.

For now, patience remains the name of the game. Oblique injuries are notoriously tricky for baseball players, requiring careful management to avoid setbacks. But with each passing day of pain-free swinging and fielding, Suárez is inching closer to returning to the lineup where his bat can make a difference.