MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs on Tuesday finally shared the injury news for right fielder Seiya Suzuki, who has a posterior cruciate ligament strain in his right knee.
“We got good news,” manager Craig Counsell said.
Suzuki has swelling in his knee but will participate in some workouts, Counsell said. How he responds would determine whether he’ll be ready for Opening Day.
“There’s nothing structural that he can’t play,” Counsell said.
It could have been a significant loss for the Cubs, who are counting on Suzuki as an important middle-of-the-order run producer. Suzuki batted .245/.326/.478 with 32 homers in 151 games as the primary designated hitter for the Cubs last season and went 3-for-9 with two home runs, five walks, two runs scored and five RBI playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. He’s in the final year of a five-year, $85 million contract with the Cubs.
Priority No. 1 for every team in spring training is staying healthy, but Suzuki joined White Sox catcher Kyle Teel as World Baseball Classic casualties. Teel strained a hamstring legging out a double for Team Italy in the WBC and Suzuki injured his knee making a head first slide on an attempted steal of second base on Saturday, something he likely would not have attempted in a Cactus League game.
The Cubs must be hoping closer Daniel Palencia, who is saving games for Venezuela with max-level intensity and 100 mph velocity, won’t be overtaxed should he be called on in consecutive days and made available in the championship game against Team USA Tuesday night in Miami. Palencia got the save for Venezuela against Italy Monday night, throwing 15 pitches with two strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning.
Suzuki had an MRI on Monday in Mesa.
