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.
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