Cubs manager Craig Counsell called the update “good news” and noted that the injury was “minor in nature,” according to MLB.com.
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The club has yet to decide whether to place Suzuki, 31, on the injured list before Opening Day. That call will be made this weekend. Chicago begins the season, Suzuki’s fifth with the team, on March 26 against the Washington Nationals.
Following a 32-homer, 103-RBI campaign in 2025, which saw the Cubs return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, Suzuki enters the final season of his contract.
When counting the posting fee Chicago owed his former club in Nippon Professional Baseball, that five-year deal ended up costing roughly $100 million, according to The Athletic.
Suzuki participated in this year’s WBC after being sidelined with an oblique injury when his Japanese teammates won the international tournament in 2023.
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In four WBC games this year, he went 3-for-9 with 5 RBI and 6 walks. He hit a pair of home runs against Korea in Group C.
Following his injury in the first inning on Saturday, Suzuki finally flew back to Arizona to rejoin the Cubs for the final part of spring training.
Although Suzuki spent most of his time last season as a designated hitter, he is expected to serve as the Cubs’ primary right fielder in 2026.
If he’s going to miss time early in the year, others can take his place and team with left fielder Ian Happ and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Possible replacements include Matt Shaw and Michael Conforto.