Seiya Suzuki it’s three games into a minor league rehab with Double-A Knoxville, and his return to the Cubs’ lineup is now imminent. As manager Craig Counsell told MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian and other reporters today, the plan is for Suzuki to be placed on the 10-day disabled list before Friday’s game against the Pirates.
Suzuki will play for Knoxville on Tuesday and Wednesday to get a few more reps before the Cubs make their final decision. In the first three games of rehab, Suzuki has started twice in right field and once as a DH, and Counsell said the team wants Suzuki to be ready to contribute offensively and defensively.
“We’re probably dealing with bats as much as anything here,” Counsell said.He didn’t get a full spring. Many weeks off. It’s about making sure you’re ready to go on the offensive….We want him to play the right position, so we will update him when he is ready to play on the right.”
The World Baseball Classic limited Suzuki’s Spring Training career to just two Cactus League games, and a PCL sprain ended Suzuki’s preseason career entirely. Suzuki suffered the injury while attempting to steal second in the WBC quarter-final against Venezuela on March 14. The sprain was so minor that the Cubs considered holding Suzuki out altogether, though Chicago decided to be cautious and give Suzuki more time to ramp up.
2026 is a big year for Suzuki, as it is the final season of the five-year, $85MM free agent contract he signed with Chicago before the 2022 season. The deal proved to be a solid investment, as Suzuki hit .269/.346/.472 with 87 home runs in his four Major League seasons, translating to a 127 wRC+ and 11.1 fWAR. Suzuki turns 32 in August and his corner glove work has been at an all-time high, so he’ll need big numbers to land another lucrative contract in free agency (with the Cubs or another team) next winter.
Matt ShawPlaying time will be a huge hindrance to Suzuki’s return, as the rookie has seen more time in right field in Suzuki’s absence. Shaw will continue to be used in a much smaller capacity around the diamond, and will still get time on the grass when Suzuki is used as a DH. Moises Ballesteros has been Chicago’s primary DH so far but has gotten off to a slow start, so the Cubs may option Ballesteros to Triple-A once Suzuki returns to the active roster.
If the Cubs choose to keep Ballesteros it looks to be against MLB pitching, anywhere Michael Conforto, Dylan Carlsonor Scott Kingery he can be cast as Suzuki’s odd man out. The three veterans all made it to the team after signing minor league contracts this past winter, with Conforto having just one hit in 10 plate appearances and Kingery and Carlson appearing in just one game each. The established nature of the Cubs’ everyday schedule makes it difficult for the backups to get much regular playing time, and things will get even more crowded now that Suzuki is back in action.
