During yesterday’s quarterfinal game between Samurai Japan and Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki limped off the field during the first inning after getting caught stealing second base (as noted by Yakyu Cosmopolitan on social media). Last night, Kevin Barral of Fish On First reported that Suzuki was removed due to discomfort in his right knee and that the team would continue to evaluate him. After the game, superstar Shohei Ohtani spoke to reporters (including Bob Nightengale of USA Today) and noted that Suzuki hadn’t yet undergone imaging to determine the severity of the issue, though he will presumably do so in relatively short order.
If the injury proves to be a serious one, that would be a major blow to both Suzuki and the Cubs. The 31-year-old has been on a torrid stretch all spring, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a strikeout during his brief stay in camp with Chicago before joining Samurai Japan and going 3-for-9 with a strikeout, two homers, and six walks during his four games playing in the WBC. That left him in strong position to carry his hot streak into the regular season, but now he runs the risk of being sidelined when the season begins with Opening Day less than two weeks away. 2025 was a strong season for Suzuki, as he spent most of the season playing DH for the Cubs in deference to Kyle Tucker in right field. He managed to put together a banner year from the DH slot, appearing in 151 games and slashing .245/.326/.478 (123 wRC+) with 32 homers.
2026 is an especially important year for Suzuki as his contract with the Cubs is set to expire, allowing him to reach free agency this coming November. In a free agent class with a relative dearth of high-end offensive talent, another strong year from Suzuki could make him one of the most coveted players available next offseason. He’s a career 127 wRC+ hitter in the majors across four MLB seasons, and over the past two years he’s slashed .263/.345/.480 (129 wRC+) with 53 homers and 21 steals across 283 games. Just 17 players have posted at least 50 home runs and 20 stolen bases over the past two years, and among them only George Springer, Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr., Jose Ramirez, Juan Soto, Ohtani, and Aaron Judge have a higher on-base percentage.
There’s an argument to be made, then, that Suzuki has been among the most complete hitters in baseball in recent years. Another strong season for Suzuki where he posts similar offensive numbers to the past two seasons would cement his status as one of the top bats available in free agency, particularly given that he’s expected to return to right field on a regular basis this year with Moises Ballesteros getting a crack at regular DH time. Missing the start of the season would put a damper on all that, especially given that Suzuki averaged just 127 games a year over his first three seasons in the majors due to various trips to the injured list.
As for the Cubs, the team would certainly miss one of its top hitters if he does wind up starting the season on the injured list. The good news for Chicago, however, is that they’re relatively well-stocked in terms of depth at this point. Matt Shaw has begun getting reps in the outfield this spring after being bumped out of the regular third base job by the addition of Alex Bregman, while Michael Conforto is in camp with the Cubs on a minor league deal. Conforto already seemed to be in strong position to make the team’s roster as a bench bat, and if Suzuki were to start the season on the IL he’d surely join Shaw as one of the favorites for regular reps in right field to open the year. Chicago could also view an injury to Suzuki as an opportunity to get top outfield prospect Kevin Alcantara a look at the big league level as he heads into his final option year while facing a fairly crowded outfield mix.
Hoping for a speedy recovery for Suzuki, fun guy to watch when it isn’t against my team.
Hey I’m battling right knee discomfort TOO!
I got right knee discomfort and left knee discomfort plus a few other things. Too many years catching and I’m old now. 😁
Were you caught stealing too…from Grandma’s cookie jar? Hear she packs a mean wallop. And a thousand yard stare
He’s going to have a monster year if he’s healthy, Hoyer really did well with this signing
Unless it turns out to be a torn ACL or something( Which it didn’t look like) it’s not a big thing. Carlson has been arguably the best bat in camp and can play all 3 positions. Cubs have options and they can always use him at DH to keep his bat in the lineup. Not to mention it’s still quite awhile before the season starts. Everybody just needs to relax. I’m just enjoying how the Cubs pitching is looking with Assad and Brown looking like they could start right now. Brown may have found a 3rd AND a 4th pitch this off season. Glad I bought Marquee a month early so I wouldn’t be able to watch the games. What a worthwhile investment that wasn’t. Thanks Tom.
You’re not valuing all the…infomercials? Still have bass fishing specials from 1988?
I’ve seen more Cub games on the White Sox channel this spring than Marquee. Guess Tom really needed the 20 bucks. Well lesson learned for next year anyway.
Carlson? This is why Cubs fans get a bad rep – spring stats mean absolutely nothing. Sometimes they carry over but many times not. He can be a decent bench piece, but he is not a viable replacement for Suzuki. Check his stats from the past couple of years as opposed to what he’s done vs rookies and washed up starters this spring, if you’re going to use stats. Sure, he is better defensively than Suzuki, but the bottom line is Cubs are going to miss Seiya’s bat if he misses time. And if he plays DH (which is where he actually belongs given his inconsistent glove work), that means.fewer opportunities for the fat guy, and Cubs need more lefties in the lineup.
This is why reading is a skill. Nobody said Carlson was a long term option. Spring stats don’t mean anything but good AB’s and swings do. And he’s swinging it fine right now. Keller was great last spring and I noticed and he basically kept it up all year. They’re not the beat all end all but they are an indicator of things that can happen. Pay attention.
Rememberthecoop, “this is why Cubs fans get a bad rep”? Seriously? Of all the teams in baseball it’s only Cubs fans who look at spring training stats and get hopeful? If Carlson was in camp with either NY team or Boston the media and fans would be discussing when to retire his number and where to put his statue.
Don’t think many Cub fans are reading spring stats actually. Attending the endless Wrigleyville pub crawls after watching the river dye green like the tourists they are. Maybe sharpening their cup snake skills. But point taken. More likely to get genuflecting and guffawing about baseball at the South Side Irish parade today: the people’s parade!
“Carlson has been arguably the best bat in camp.”
Don’t count on that to continue. Nearly 2k regular-season PA to major leaguers carry a bit more weight than 37 PA against uneven competition.
Not counting on ANYTHING. Just saying it’s deserving of a chance at a job if necessary. That’s all Spring Training is anyway. A chance.
Carlson and Conforto have been the likely bench choices along with Shaw and whoever isn’t catching that day. Counsell has decided to roll with letting one the catchers or Shaw play 1B when Busch needs a day off. McCormick seems to be the odd man out.
If Suzuki ends up on the IL, then Shaw and Conforto will get most of the reps in RF against RHP and Carlson will play against LHP. If it is a short absence they will find some disposable fast MI for the bench who they can DFA.
He is not going to be in the lineup opening day, at this point Cubs can only hope he can get an at-bat by end of April.
If he decides to ride the injury expect his season to diminish quickly into longer DL stints.
By the end of the season shaw will be eligible everywhere except pitcher and catcher. Book it.
Alcantara is just 23 and debuted in 2024. I doubt very strongly that he’s in his final option year.
I hope he’s okay. I don’t know why he’s trying to steal 2B wit two outs. It doesn’t make sense.