The Chicago Cubs are expected to ?activate outfielder Seiya Suzuki from the injured list Friday in advance of a three-game home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Suzuki ?has not played for the ?Cubs ?this season because of ?a sprained knee ligament that happened as he played for Team Japan ?in the World Baseball Classic.
In three rehab games ?with Double-A Knoxville so far, Suzuki is 3-for-8 ?with a walk and ?an RBI.
¡°We¡¯re probably dealing with at-bats as much ?as anything ?here,¡± Cubs manager Craig Counsell ?told reporters. ¡°He didn¡¯t get a ?full ?spring. Multiple weeks off. It¡¯s just making sure he¡¯s ready to go offensively.¡±
Suzuki has played 10 ?innings over two games in right field during his time with Knoxville, with the Cubs intent on getting ?him ?more time on defense ?this week.
Suzuki, 31, had his most ?productive season with the Cubs last year when he hit 32 home runs with 103 RBIs. Over ?four seasons in Chicago, Suzuki has batted .269 with an .818 OPS, 87 home runs and 296 RBIs in 532 games.
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