Seiya Suzuki's Knee Injury is Almost in the Rearview, and the Cubs Can't Wait to Get Him Back
Seiya Suzuki is this close to suiting up for the Cubs again. According to manager Craig Counsell, the right fielder is eligible to come off the injured list this weekend, but Chicago is taking the smart route and sending him to the minors first to shake off the rust before activating him. The team is still figuring out whether it'll be Double-A or Triple-A based on weather conditions, but the important part? Suzuki passed a serious battery of tests on Tuesday that has everyone feeling good about where he's at.
One More Hurdle, Then He's Ready to Play
Counsell put Suzuki through the wringer on Tuesday, and for good reason. "Today was really trying to put him through one last test and that included some stops/starts, kind of unexpected moves on the bases," Counsell said. "He did (some) sliding. So we're in a really good space." The 31-year-old has been sidelined since mid-March after tearing up his right knee during the World Baseball Classic. It happened on a stolen base attempt in the quarterfinals against Venezuela. The diagnosis came back as a minor posterior cruciate ligament strain, but the Cubs are making sure he's 100 percent before he's back in the field.
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Here's the thing: the Cubs can't afford to rush this. Suzuki had an absolute monster year in 2025, mashing 32 home runs and driving in 103 runs. That production got Chicago to the postseason for the first time since 2020. The team could stick him at designated hitter to ease him back, but Counsell made it clear: "We'll activate him when he's ready to play right field." Suzuki becomes a free agent at the end of this season, so there's no point in taking shortcuts now. Once he's fully recovered and gets some at-bats in the minors, he'll be ready to make a real impact in the lineup.
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