SEIYA SUZUKI NEWS

Patrick Mooney: Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki and left-handed... - The Athletic Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki and left-handed reliever Brandon Hughes are expected to play for Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, moving closer towar...

APRIL 7, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Cleared for rehab assignment Suzuki (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Joey Pollizze of MLB.com reports.

Impact Suzuki has been getting at-bats in simulated games for a bit and is now ready to test things out in official game action. The outfielder figures to need a handful of rehab contests before being activated but could be back in the Cubs' lineup at some point next week.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Getting more sim at-bats Tuesday Suzuki (oblique) is slated to get two at-bats out of the DH spot in a simulated game Tuesday in Arizona, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Suzuki played four innings of right field in a camp game Monday and will get more work at the dish Tuesday as he continues to rebound from a left oblique strain. He should soon be cleared to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment and seems likely to join the Cubs' active roster by mid-April.

APRIL 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Plays in simulated game Suzuki (oblique) played four innings in right field during a simulated game in Arizona on Monday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Suzuki was able to get two at-bats in the simulated action in Mesa. The outfielder has been out since early in the spring season with an oblique strain, but has a chance to return to the Cubs and their starting lineup in the coming weeks, if not days. A rehab assignment in the minor-leagues is likely the next step for Suzuki.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Playing in extended spring games Suzuki (oblique) will get some at-bats in extended spring games over the next couple days, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Impact Suzuki missed the start of the season with a strained left oblique, but he doesn't appear to be set to miss too much time. A rehab assignment could soon follow if the outfielder gets through his extended-spring games without issues.

APRIL 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Officially lands on injured list Suzuki (oblique) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to March 27.

Impact It's an expected move from the Cubs since Suzuki went down early in spring training with a strained left oblique. The 28-year-old was cleared for limited game action late in camp, so he may have only a minimum-length stay on the shelf. Miles Mastrobuoni is starting in right field for Chicago's Opening Day matchup with Milwaukee.

MARCH 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Plays defense Monday Suzuki (oblique) was cleared to play the outfield in a minor-league spring training game Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Suzuki is on track to open the season on the 10-day injured list, but now that he's been cleared to hit and play the outfield over the past couple days, he may be trending toward a minimum-length stay on the shelf.

MARCH 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes batting practice Saturday Suzuki (oblique) took part in batting practice Saturday and looked good, though he's still expected to begin the season on the injured list, MLB.com reports.

Impact Suzuki also took batting practice and did some light baserunning Wednesday, so he seems to be advancing. However, the Cubs will likely be cautious with the outfielder, especially early in the season when temperatures are lower and muscle strains are a bit trickier to manage. Suzuki should still be back around mid-April and will slot back into the starting lineup at that point.

MARCH 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Taking normal BP on Wednesday Suzuki (oblique) will take normal batting practice in the cage Wednesday and also do some light baserunning, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact It's a step up from the soft-toss drills Suzuki had been going through. The outfielder is coming up on a month since being diagnosed with a moderate left oblique strain and has made some nice progress of late. Suzuki will likely begin the season on the injured list but might not wind up missing much time.

MARCH 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing, running and hitting Suzuki (oblique) threw long-toss, ran sprints and hit in the cage Tuesday in Cubs camp, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Suzuki continues to make promising strides in his recovery from the moderate left oblique strain he suffered in late February. He's going to open the 2023 regular season on the injured list, but all current signs point to the 28-year-old outfielder being part of the Cubs' everyday lineup come mid-April.

MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Making progress in hitting program Suzuki (oblique) will add front-flips in his hitting program Sunday and has been taking non-contact swings in the past few days, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Suzuki continues to make progress in his attempt to come back from the oblique strain that has sidelined him since late February. The outfielder is all but assured to open the season on the injured list, but the current belief is that without a setback he stands a good chance of rejoining the Cubs by the middle of April.

MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Taking dry swings Suzuki (oblique) played catch Wednesday and will take dry swings Thursday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact Suzuki will stick to that sort of routine for the next week before perhaps advancing to tee work. The outfielder is headed for a season-opening stint on the injured list after suffering a moderate left oblique strain in late February, but the current belief is that he will be able to join the Cubs' active roster by mid-April.

MARCH 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

World Baseball Classic 2023 odds: Dominican Republic favorite to win it all

With a key player opting out for Team USA, the Dominican Republic is the new WBC pretournament betting favorite at FOX Bet.

MARCH 2, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Opening Day in jeopardy Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Thursday that Suzuki (oblique) is in "strong jeopardy" of missing the start of the regular season, Tony Andracki of Marquee Spo...

Impact Suzuki suffered a moderate left oblique strain last week, and it's an injury that often requires around a full month of rest and rehab work. "We're not gonna put any firm timetables on it but I think there's a general expectation of what a moderate oblique injury is," said Hoyer. "That certainly would put Opening Day in strong jeopardy. We just want to make sure we get him completely healthy." Christopher Morel is the most obvious fill-in candidate for right field, though the Cubs have a number of options to fill the position. Suzuki will hopefully be ready to take over by mid-April.

MARCH 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Injured Cubs OF Seiya Suzuki off WBC Japan squad, could miss Opening Day

Japan's Seiya Suzuki is out of the World Baseball Classic and might miss Opening Day with the Chicago Cubs due to an oblique injury.

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Suffers moderate oblique strain Suzuki has been diagnosed with a moderate left oblique strain, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

Impact Suzuki had to be scratched from the lineup Saturday, and an MRI has revealed the bad news. The Cubs haven't provided a clear timetable for Suzuki's return to action, but the outfielder is almost certainly going to need a stint on the injured list. Nelson Velazquez, Christopher Morel, Edwin Rios, Zach McKinstry and Miles Mastrobuoni are among those who could see an uptick in playing time while Suzuki is out. It could also lead to Trey Mancini and Patrick Wisdom seeing more action in the outfield.

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Waiting for imaging results Suzuki (oblique) and the Cubs are still waiting for results of imaging before deciding the next steps, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Impact Suzuki had imaging done on his left oblique injury on Sunday, but the Cubs are still in "wait-and-see mode" until doctors make a determination. The team is hopeful to know more by late Monday or early Tuesday. What the imaging says will likely determine Suzuki's status for Opening Day. He has also officially withdrawn from the World Baseball Classic while awaiting his results, per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

FEBRUARY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Set for medical imaging Suzuki (oblique) will undergo medical imaging Sunday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Impact The 28-year-old was scratched from Saturday's Cactus League game due to left oblique tightness, and the medical testing should provide clarity on the severity of the injury. Suzuki shouldn't be expected to see game action for at least a few days, regardless of the imaging results.

FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Scratched with tight oblique Suzuki was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's Cactus League contest against the Giants due to left oblique tightness, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Impact Whether Suzuki is dealing with a strain or nothing worse than standard early-spring soreness should become clear following further tests. Injuries limited Suzuki to 111 games last season, but his finger issues as a rookie aren't related to his current oblique problem.

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets stronger in offseason Suzuki has added about 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason in an effort to hold up better in the 2023 season, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Suzuki ended up playing 111 games during his rookie season, with a finger injury wiping out about a month. The added muscle might not help with finger injuries, but the outfielder still hopes he can be stronger later in the year. ''I just want to make sure I don't get injured during the season,'' he said. ''Just do my best to contribute to the team and obviously win a championship.'' The Cubs added Cody Bellinger in the offseason, but Suzuki should be locked in as a starting outfielder along with Ian Happ.

FEBRUARY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

A bulked-up Seiya Suzuki hopes to provide the power the Chicago Cubs need — and stay healthy — in Year 2 in the majors Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki's deliberate offseason approach added 20 pounds to his frame to better prepare for the rigors of a 1...

FEBRUARY 22, 2023 • CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

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FEBRUARY 15, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Can Seiya Suzuki be an offensive force? 3 storylines to watch at Cubs spring training. CHICAGO — The first glimpse of the Chicago Cubs’ revamped roster can finally be counted down in days, not weeks.

FEBRUARY 12, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM