The Chicago Cubs took a gut shot on Saturday when Seiya Suzuki limped off the field in Japan’s World Baseball Classic quarterfinal loss to Venezuela after a failed steal attempt at second base.
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Initially pulled from the game due to right knee discomfort, the Japanese star has returned to Cubs’ camp in Mesa, Arizona to be evaluated by team doctors.
Suzuki, who had a career power year in 2025 with 32 home runs and 103 RBIs, was slated to be the Cubs’ every day right fielder, replacing the outgoing Kyle Tucker. In January, Chicago traded top prospect Owen Caissie to the Miami Marlins for starter Edward Cabrera, cinching Suzuki’s spot at the position.
Now, things are a bit up in the air, at least until there’s some confirmation as to the seriousness of the injury.
Counsell’s Plan B for injured Suzuki
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Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, meanwhile, is reporting that manager Craig Counsell has a Plan B, at least for now:
“In the meantime, Counsell confirmed that Matt Shaw would be in line to take over as the club’s primary right fielder if Suzuki is sidelined for an extended period. Shaw, a Gold Glove finalist as a rookie third baseman last year, is adapting well to the new super-utility role that will shift him between the infield and outfield.”
It would be fantastical thinking, though, to assume that the sophomore Shaw, who has limited outfield experience and just started seriously taking up the position this spring, could be this team’s every day right fielder.
The Cubs still have veteran Michael Conforto, Dylan Carlson, and Chas McCormick in camp. Justin Dean had just been sent to Triple-A, but he could be brought back. They also have prospect Kevin Alcantara. All five of these options are natural outfielders and could play an adequate fill-in role for a short stretch of time.
But if Suzuki is lost for a lengthier period?
Moves that might need to be made
That would be a major concern and it could have Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer on the phone looking for a trade. Some kind of platoon situation could also be cooked up to get maximum production from the available outfielders, who were all thought to be competing for the fourth outfielder spot on the 26-man roster.
The 31-year-old Suzuki is in the last year of his 5-year, $85 million contract with Chicago and will be eligible for free agency at the end of the season. The Cubs will be staring down the choice of re-signing both Suzuki and the similarly free agency-eligible corner outfielder Ian Happ (along with pitchers Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, and second baseman Nico Hoerner).
An injury that keeps him out of commission for an extended period of time could likely nudge the Cubs further from the possibility of bringing him back.
Before any action is taken, however, the Cubs and Suzuki need a clear idea of what’s going on with the knee.
Chicago Cubs fans questioning Seiya Suzuki social media post amid injury concerns
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