As Seiya Suzuki went on an offensive tear into the playoffs last year, fellow Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong offered up unprompted praise for his impact on the other side of the ball.
“We all know Seiya can hit,” Crow-Armstrong said during the NL wild-card series. “I think what’s stood out to me the most about the last two days with Seiya is how he’s held right field down. When he’s been called upon to play right field, it’s been so good this year from him, and I think he’s gotten so much better as an outfielder in general. The confidence I see from him and how we interact pitch to pitch, it just shows me that he’s gotten more comfortable.”
Now, Suzuki is in line to claim a more regular role in right field for the first time since 2023. The roster could, of course, change before the season begins. But as it stands, after Kyle Tucker left in free agency and the Cubs sent top Owen Caissie to Miami as part of the trade for right-hander Edward Cabrera, Suzuki is the leading candidate for the position.
“Defensively, I think he played very well this season,” manager Craig Counsell said at winter meetings last month. “Obviously he had less chances and did spend the bulk of the first half of the season in the DH spot. But the second half of the season with Kyle’s injury, he played significant innings in the outfield and did a really good job.”
Filling out their outfield depth has been a focus for the Cubs recently. Just this past week, the Cubs have announced minor-league deals that included major-league spring training invitations for Chas McCormick and Dylan Carlson.
Two weeks ago, they claimed center fielder Justin Dean off waivers. And at Cubs Convention, they made clear that Matt Shaw, in a super utility role after veteran third baseman Alex Bragman’s signing, would be taking outfield reps in spring training.
Also on the 40-man roster, Kevin Alcántara has primarily played center field, but he has experience at both corner outfielder spots. And Tyler Austin is comfortable both at first base and in the outfield.
The Cubs will have options to get Suzuki, and the rest of the regular outfield group, breaks when needed. But besides Suzuki’s long history at the position – he was a five-time Gold Glove winner in his NPB career before making the switch to MLB – his presence in right field has the offensive advantage of opening up the designated hitter spot for top prospect Moises Ballesteros.
“[Suzuki] is going to play a lot of right field,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer confirmed two weeks ago.
A handful of gaffes on routine plays in Suzuki’s MLB career have tarnished Suzuki’s reputation as an outfielder. The most memorable was a dropped fly ball in Atlanta in September 2023, as the Cubs fell just short of a playoff berth.
He would regularly pull off more difficult plays, however, making the mistakes even more head-scratching. Midway through the 2024 season, he lightheartedly referenced the “yips.”
Counsell, however, has been clear that Suzuki’s lack of playing time in the outfield the last couple years wasn’t a critique of his defensive ability, but more of a reflection of player personnel.
The last couple years, Cody Bellinger and then Tucker have been ahead of Suzuki in the right field depth chart.
Counsell still found Suzuki intermittent playing time in the outfield during the first half of last season. And though Suzuki had a two-error game in June, once Tucker was sidelined with a calf injury late in the season, Suzuki was a solid replacement. He served as the Cubs’ everyday right fielder through the playoffs, with Tucker still limited. And though confidence isn’t measurable, Suzuki did appear more comfortable, as Crow-Armstrong mentioned.
“I don’t think I’ve made plays that really Pete should compliment,” Suzuki said through Japanese interpreter Edwin Stanberry during the postseason. “But I will say just being able to play offense and defense, both sides of the ball, I’ve been very thankful for it and I’ve been enjoying it.
“Being able to contribute to the team on the offensive side as well as the defensive side, I think it really comes down to preparation, how much I’m preparing for the game, and hopefully I can do my best to contribute to the team on both sides.”