Seiya back with Cubs for his '26 debut, reinstated from IL

CHICAGO – The Cubs’ offense takes on a different shape when Seiya Suzuki’s powerful bat is in the heart of the order. Prior to Friday’s game against the Pirates, Cubs manager Craig Counsell was able to put the right fielder’s name back onto his lineup card.

The Cubs activated Suzuki from the 10-day injured list ahead of the series opener against Pittsburgh at Wrigley Field, following the outfielder’s comeback from a right knee injury. For his first game back off the shelf, Suzuki started in right field and was slotted into the fifth spot of the lineup.

“Look, we’re putting one of our middle-of-the-order bats back in the lineup,” Counsell said. “We’re putting somebody who had 30 home runs and drove in a ton of runs for us back in the lineup. It’s a big addition, for sure.”

To clear room on the active roster, the Cubs designated outfielder Dylan Carlson for assignment. In addition, Chicago placed right-hander Phil Maton (right knee tendinitis) on the 15-day IL (retroactive to Wednesday) and recalled righty Ethan Roberts from Triple-A Iowa to take his spot in the bullpen.

While Suzuki was out, Counsell leaned primarily on super-utility man Matt Shaw and outfielder Michael Conforto in right field. Moisés Ballesteros got the bulk of his playing time, meanwhile, as the designated hitter. With Suzuki now back, expect the DH role to feature a rotation of players, with Shaw capable of playing all over the diamond.

“Guys are going to need days off, too,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “So, I’m not actually that worried about guys getting at-bats. We’ll mix and match a bunch and my hope is that both [Shaw and Ballesteros] play well and that we have a chance to give guys days off.

“And we have a chance to match up against certain types of pitchers. It’s important to be able to do that. I think if they get to a point of not playing enough, then that’s a different discussion, but I don’t see that happening.”

Counsell also noted that Suzuki will not be playing every day immediately off the IL. The manager will pick spots to work in a day off or have him serve as the DH in the early going, as the Cubs build him back up to everyday readiness.

“We’ll be somewhat cautious over this first week of how we get him back,” Counsell said.

Suzuki opened the season on the IL after sustaining a minor sprain of the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Japan’s quarterfinals loss to Venezuela on March 14 during the World Baseball Classic.

The 31-year-old Suzuki was able to resume baseball activities fairly quickly after rejoining the Cubs in Arizona near the end of Spring Training, and was able to head out on a Minor League rehab assignment on April 3. Suzuki played five games in a six-day span, hitting .429 (6-for-14) with two doubles, two walks and a 1.042 OPS in 17 plate appearances.

That includes a three-hit showing on Tuesday for Suzuki, who had 32 home runs, 31 doubles, 103 RBIs and an .804 OPS last season for the Cubs.

“Seiya, last year, he was arguably one of our best hitters. Hit for power, got on base,” Shaw said on Tuesday. “So having him is putting one of the best hitters in the Major Leagues in your lineup. I think that's going to be absolutely pivotal for us.”