Cubs announce OF Seiya Suzuki will begin season on injured list with strained right knee
· Yahoo Sports
The Chicago Cubs confirmed what many suspected would happen after Seiya Suzuki injured his right knee in last week’s World Baseball Classic quarterfinals.
Suzuki will begin the 2026 MLB season on the injured list with a strained PCL, Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced on Monday.
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Suzuki, 31, sustained the injury while attempting to steal second base during the first inning of Japan’s 8-5 loss to Venezuela on March 14. He left the game and was officially diagnosed upon returning to the Cubs’ spring training camp three days later.
While the strain is reportedly minor and the Cubs don’t expect Suzuki to miss much time, he wasn’t going to be ready for Opening Day on Thursday versus the Washington Nationals.
"Opening Day, it's not going to happen,” Counsell said on Saturday, via MLB.com. “Once you get past Opening Day, we've got to make a decision, does it just make sense to give him some time? We've got time to make that decision.”
Yesterday Seiya Suzuki played catch wearing a knee brace. "That's a brace that's made for this injury specifically," Craig Counsell said this morning. "It's just something that should make him feel a little more comfortable with the knee." #Cubs@WatchMarqueepic.twitter.com/xiWAuByyog
— Scott Changnon (@ScottyChags) March 22, 2026
Suzuki has been going through his normal preparations as a batter, but hasn’t faced live pitching since returning to the Cubs last week. He also has not been allowed to run, slide, or go through stop-and-start running motions.
Last season, Suzuki put up his best numbers in four seasons with the Cubs. He hit 32 home runs with 31 doubles and 102 RBI, while batting .245/.326/.478 in 651 plate appearances.
This season will be the final year on the five-year, $85 million contract Suzuki signed in 2022. In his four seasons with the Cubs, he’s batted .269/.346/.472 with 111 doubles, 87 homers, 296 RBI and 36 stolen bases, playing primarily as a designated hitter and right fielder.
The Cubs invited outfielder Michael Conforto (.199/.305/.333 last season) to spring training on a minor-league deal and Suzuki’s injury has assured him a spot on the Opening Day roster. Matt Shaw (.226/.25/.394) is also expected to see time in right field, moving to a super-utility role after the Cubs signed free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman.