CHICAGO -- Seiya Suzuki put on a show in batting practice during Monday’s pregame workout, peppering the bleachers at Wrigley Field with a pile of impressive home runs. That checked the box of looking very much like a hitter who was ready to step back into the heart of the Cubs’ lineup.
On Tuesday, Suzuki kept checking off even more tasks, making it clear that a return to game action was the next step for the sidelined outfielder. On the 10-day injured list with a right knee sprain, Suzuki did defensive drills, baserunning and added some sliding on a mat in the outfield to his increasing workload.
“We really tried to put him through one last test, really,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Tuesday. “We’re in a really good space.”
The next steps to Suzuki's recovery were confirmed Wednesday ahead of Chicago's series finale against the Angels. The 31-year-old is set to depart for Knoxville, Tenn., where he'll join the Double-A Smokies to begin his rehab assignment. Suzuki will work out with the club on Thursday before playing Friday in the Smokies' season opener.
“We’re looking at probably three to seven days, somewhere in that range,” Counsell said Wednesday when asked how long he expects the assignment to be. “Just seeing how he feels when he’s playing and going from there.”
That schedule would line Suzuki up to be activated from the injured list on April 6 at the earliest, when the Cubs' road trip shifts to Tampa for a three-game set against the Rays. That said, it is also worth noting that Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field has artificial turf and Chicago will be back home at Wrigley Field on April 10 following a team off-day.
Suzuki is expected to play in the outfield Friday, as the Cubs want to be sure he will not be limited to the designated hitter role prior to taking him off the IL.
One key aspect to Tuesday’s workout -- besides sliding -- was having Suzuki mix in starting and stopping while doing his baserunning. The Cubs wanted to be sure he could handle some more unpredictable movements as part of the running progression.
Suzuki sustained a mild sprain of the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee on a stolen-base attempt in the first inning of Team Japan’s quarterfinals loss to Venezuela on March 14 in the World Baseball Classic. Soon after rejoining the Cubs in Arizona, he was able to resume baseball activities, but a season-opening stint on the IL was unavoidable.
Last season, Suzuki finished with career highs in home runs (32), walks (71) and RBIs (103), while also posting 31 doubles, a .478 slugging percentage and a 130 OPS+ for the Cubs. The right fielder then hit another three homers with a .613 SLG in eight postseason games in Chicago’s run to the National League Division Series.
That is an important bat for the Cubs to get back into the mix.
“A little bit will be on how he feels, for sure,” Counsell said. “We want him to play right field, so we’ll activate him when he’s ready to play right field.”