Outfielder Seiya Suzuki is set to return to the Chicago Cubs after Team Japan’s run in the World Baseball Classic ended on Saturday, but his availability moving forward is in question with a right knee injury.
Suzuki was injured in the first inning of Saturday’s WBC-ending defeat to Venezuela when he tried to steal second base. He immediately left the game with what was called right knee discomfort.
“We need to see him. He’s on a flight back here, lands sometime later today, late this afternoon,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters from spring training at Mesa, Ariz., on Sunday morning. “I think it’s going to take us through (Monday), probably, to get our hands on Seiya and see what’s going on. I think it’s just best we wait and see and let our doctors and trainers take a look at him and see what’s going on.”
Suzuki went 3-for-9 with two home runs, five RBIs and six walks in the WBC and was the starting center fielder for Japan in five of the team’s six games.
“He hasn’t had any imaging done yet so right now it’s just based on how he feels,” Team Japan and Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani said, according to USA Today. “I’m just hoping it turns out to be something positive and that it won’t affect his season.”
The Cubs are set to start the regular season at home on March 26 against the Washington Nationals.
Suzuki, 31, hit a career-best 32 home runs with 103 RBIs last season for the Cubs as they advanced to the National League Division Series. He is a career .269 hitter with an .818 OPS, 87 home runs and 296 RBIs in 532 games with the Cubs over four seasons.
–Field Level Media
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