Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki blasts home run in first spring training game, asks for sun to be moved

MESA, Ariz. — If any doubt remained, after head-turning batting practice all spring, that Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki was ready to hit in the World Baseball Classic, he erased it Friday with a blistered home run to left-center field in his first Cactus League at-bat.

Afterward, he told Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon that he’d gotten a little jammed on that pitch.

“He’s strong enough to put balls out,” Taillon said after his start in the Cubs’ 8-1 loss to the White Sox in their spring training opener Friday. “… Hopefully there’s 40 more of those from now until the end of the year.”

Suzuki was in a jovial mood after his four innings of play Friday, joking in his postgame interview about the blinding sun overhead and his connection with new White Sox star Munetaka Murakami.

In preparation for playing center field in the WBC with Team Japan, Suzuki started there instead of right field on Friday. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said he also plans to play Suzuki in center Sunday, before he departs for Tokyo on Monday.

“You get a good view of the field,” Suzuki said of the position, through Japanese interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “But can they do something about the sun? If they could move it just a little bit, that would be nice.”

Ah, yes, that age-old Arizona issue.

In the top of the fourth inning, Murakami lifted a deep fly ball to straightaway center field. Suzuki tracked it back to the warning track, sunglasses on and glove extended to shade his eyes.

The ball still disappeared in the glare, and Suzuki ducked as it landed behind him at the base of the wall.

Suzuki played the ricochet as Murakami trotted into second base with a two-run double, his second hit with the White Sox.

“I loved him,” Suzuki said of his Team Japan teammate. “But after the [fly ball], I hate him, and I’m not going to support him.”

Suzuki, after getting the laugh he was looking for, grinned and clarified that he was kidding.

“We’re in Chicago, same city, he’s probably going to be there by himself,” Suzuki said. “So if there’s anything that I can do to support him, I’d be more than happy to.”

Bregman’s Cubs debut

Third baseman Alex Bregman donned Cubbie Blue pinstripes Friday for his first spring training game as a Cub. Bregman, who is set to represent the United States in the WBC, played three innings and went 0-for-2 at the plate.

“Super cool to have all that energy in the ballpark,” Bregman said.

Sloan Park’s announced attendance was 14,419 — a staunch spring training turnout.

Taillon gets the loss

Taillon, on a slightly early schedule as he prepares to join Team Canada, allowed four runs in 1⅔ innings Friday. He threw 34 pitches.

“We’ve been doing a lot of drill work and stuff, so I’m curious to show up tomorrow and to see what translated what didn’t, and what we can work on in between starts,” Taillon said. “Obviously two homers on pitches down the middle, and besides that, everything felt fine.”

Those home runs came on a first-pitch fastball to White Sox left fielder Austin Hays and an 0-2 fastball to second baseman Sam Antonacci.