MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs are optimistic that they will not be without Seiya Suzuki for too long, but his comeback from a right knee injury will keep the right fielder out of the Opening Day lineup.
On Saturday, Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that Suzuki will not be ready for Thursday's season opener against the Nationals at Wrigley Field, but the team has not made a final decision on whether a stint on the injured list is necessary. Even if Suzuki landing on the IL might be the likely outcome, the team can hold off on that determination for the time being.
"Look, we've had good days ever since he's been back to camp," Counsell said. "Opening Day, it's not going to happen. [He's] not going to be ready to play on Opening Day. Once you get past Opening Day, we've got to make a decision, does it just make sense to give him some time? We've got time to make that decision.
“Everything else is going well, we’re just kind of running out of time in terms of being ready that quickly.”
Suzuki sustained a minor sprain of the right posterior cruciate ligament in his knee on a stolen-base attempt in the first inning of Japan's quarterfinal loss to Venezuela on March 14 in the World Baseball Classic. Since rejoining the Cubs, the outfielder has been able to do light throwing and hitting, but he has yet to advance to running drills.
Counsell noted that Suzuki was scheduled to go through a normal hitting routine in the batting cage on Saturday. Testing the knee with running, stopping and starting, and sliding will be important steps as the outfielder moves further into his comeback program. The manager reiterated that the Cubs “expect it to be short” in terms of a timeline for return.
Suzuki is an important part to the Cubs’ lineup and is coming off arguably his best offensive showing in the Majors. Last year, the outfielder finished with 31 homers, 32 doubles and 103 RBIs in the regular season, and then added three homers with a .613 slugging percentage in eight playoff games.
With Suzuki out of the mix for Opening Day, the Cubs have informed veteran outfielder Michael Conforto that he will be on the Major League roster to begin this season. Conforto was signed as a non-roster invitee, but will be officially added to the 40-man and active rosters prior to the opener.
Besides Conforto, the Cubs also have the versatile Matt Shaw, who has been getting a lot of action in right field this spring as part of his preparation for a super utility role. Chicago also has outfielders Kevin Alcántara, Dylan Carlson (non-roster) and Chas McCormick (non-roster) still in camp as bench candidates.
Taillon has solid bounceback outing
Veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon turned in four scoreless innings before allowing homers to Max Muncy and Lawrence Butler in the fifth inning against the A’s on Friday. The Cubs starter struck out six, generated seven whiffs, showed off six pitches and built up to 78 pitches overall in a solid outing.
It was an encouraging sign for Taillon, whose previous four Cactus League starts included 23 runs allowed in 9 1/3 innings.
“That was basically Jameson Taillon,” Counsell said of the pitcher’s start against the A’s. “Other than, I would say he got a little tired faster than normal. But heat [was a factor], and we did -- because of the previous starts -- do a lot more work [this week]. So, that was kind of expected. … But the stuff was good. It was just crisper, sharper. It was normal Jameson Taillon.”
Rojas part of latest roster moves
Cubs shortstop prospect Jefferson Rojas (No. 5 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 list for the Cubs) was returned to Minor League camp on Saturday. In 19 Cactus League games, Rojas had four homers, four doubles, 11 RBIs and an .877 OPS.
“Jefferson’s 20 years old -- that’s the biggest thing to take away,” Counsell said. “He’s made a ton of progress. A 20-year-old stepping into the box like that and the ability to do that kind of damage at that age, it’s fun to watch.”
Worth noting
• Righty Javier Assad exited his outing after 2 1/3 innings against the A’s on Friday due to a fingernail issue. Counsell said the pitcher was removed as a precaution and will continue with his normal routine.
• Cubs prospect BJ Murray was also returned to Minor League camp on Saturday.