Seiya Suzuki to miss Cubs’ opener after knee injury in WBC

MESA, Ariz. — Seiya Suzuki will miss the Chicago Cubs‘season opener after struggling a minor ligament pressure in his proper knee in the course of the World Baseball Classic, supervisor Craig Counsell stated Saturday.

The crew was mulling whether or not to place Suzuki on the injured listing.

“Opening Day is not going to happen,” Counsell stated. “[He’s] not going to be ready to play on Opening Day. We’ve got to make a decision. Once you get past Opening Day, we’ve got to make a decision: Does it just make sense to just give him some time? We’ve got time to make that decision, but that’s kind of where we’re at.”

The Cubs open towards Washington at Wrigley Field on Thursday.

Suzuki bought damage in Japan’s 8-5 loss to Venezuela in a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal March 14 in Miami. He walked gingerly to the dugout after a headfirst slide into second base when he was caught stealing in the primary inning. Suzuki was changed in middle subject after the top of that half-inning.

The 31-year-old returned to the Cubs’ spring coaching facility Monday, when he was seen strolling slowly with a tender brace on the injured knee. Suzuki underwent imaging to decide the extent of the injury.

Suzuki goes into the ultimate season of an $85 million, five-year contract. He has hit .269 with 87 dwelling runs and 296 RBIs in 532 video games for the Cubs, together with a team-leading 103 RBIs with 32 homers in 2025.