Seiya Suzuki -- Injury Report

Seiya Suzuki, 31, will make his season debut Friday for the Cubs against Pittsburgh after recovering from a knee injury suffered during WBC play on a stolen base attempt while representing Team Japan. Suzuki is in the final year of a five-year, $85 million contract and will start in right field, though manager Craig Counsell indicated the team will exercise caution given the recent injury. Counsell described Suzuki as "one of our middle of the order bats" and called his return "a big addition."

The Cubs made corresponding roster moves to accommodate Suzuki's return. Outfielder Dylan Carlson was designated for assignment after recording only four at-bats in his first two weeks. Right-hander Ethan Roberts was called up from Triple-A to replace reliever Phil Maton, who was placed on the injured list with right knee tendinitis. Maton struggled in early appearances, posting a 6-run, 4-inning outing against Tampa Bay where his velocity declined significantly due to inability to properly drive off the mound.

The Cubs also deal with a more serious long-term injury: starter Cade Horton requires elbow surgery with a projected recovery of 12-15 months. This marks his second elbow surgery after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2021. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer stated no regrets about their conservative handling of Horton, noting they limited his pitch count despite the injury. Despite these setbacks, Cubs starters lead the NL in ERA, with righties Javier Assad and Colin Rea performing well in recent wins. Hoyer indicated the team is "always considering outside options" for pitching but said it's "not top of mind" at this time.

Seiya Suzuki has returned to the Chicago Cubs after being activated from the injured list following a sprained right knee. The injury occurred on March 14 during the World Baseball Classic when Suzuki attempted a steal while playing for Japan. He suffered a posterior cruciate ligament sprain in his right knee. Suzuki made his return in Friday's game against Pittsburgh, starting in right field and recording one hit in three at-bats.

Prior to his injury, Suzuki was one of the Cubs' most productive hitters, batting .245 with a career-high 32 home runs and 103 RBIs in 151 games last season. His performance helped lead the Cubs to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Manager Craig Counsell described his return as "putting one of our middle-of-the-order bats back in the lineup" and "a big addition."

During his rehabilitation, Suzuki played in five games for Double-A Knoxville, hitting .429 with two doubles. He noted that while hitting felt ready early in his recovery, running and fielding presented more challenges. Counsell indicated he will manage Suzuki cautiously over the next week to ensure his continued availability. The Cubs also recalled right-hander Ethan Roberts from Triple-A Iowa and placed reliever Phil Maton on the 15-day injured list with right knee tendinitis.

Seiya Suzuki sustained a minor PCL sprain in his right knee during Japan's World Baseball Classic quarterfinal against Venezuela on Saturday night in Miami. The injury occurred when Suzuki made a headfirst slide into second base while attempting to steal in the first inning; he walked gingerly to the dugout and was replaced in center field that inning. Suzuki returned to the Cubs' spring training facility on Monday wearing a soft brace and underwent imaging tests to assess the extent of the injury.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced Tuesday that Suzuki will be evaluated further this week before the organization decides whether to place him on the injured list. While receiving treatment, Suzuki is permitted to engage in baseball activities, though it remains uncertain when he will be available for the regular season start. The 31-year-old is entering the final year of his five-year, $85 million contract. In 2025, Suzuki recorded a team-leading 103 RBIs with 32 home runs across 532 career games for the Cubs, batting .269 with 87 total home runs and 296 RBIs in a Cubs uniform.

Seiya Suzuki suffered a right knee injury during the World Baseball Classic on Saturday while attempting a stolen base for Team Japan. An MRI exam revealed a minor sprain of the posterior cruciate ligament. Manager Craig Counsell stated the Cubs received "good news" and that the injury's impact on Opening Day availability remains unclear, with a decision expected by Saturday regarding whether Suzuki will play March 26 or require injured list time.

Suzuki returned to Cubs camp on Monday and has been wearing a soft brace while undergoing light workouts. He reported feeling improvement daily and expressed optimism about his recovery prospects. The 31-year-old had a productive 2023 season with 32 home runs, 31 doubles, and 103 RBIs across 151 games. If unavailable for the season opener, the Cubs have versatile infielder Matt Shaw as a right field option and three veteran outfielders in camp as non-roster invitees.