Back with Japan, Suzuki looks to bring year-end hot streak into Classic

MESA, Ariz. -- Seiya Suzuki was excited to play a key role for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic three years ago, but an injury in late February that spring forced the Cubs' slugger to withdraw from the tournament. He then watched from afar as Japan won the Classic in dramatic fashion over Team USA.

Suzuki’s teammates for Japan had one of his jerseys in their dugout throughout the tourney and hoisted it again during their clinching celebration. While that undoubtedly meant a lot to him, Suzuki is very much looking forward to being with Team Japan as one of their offensive weapons this time around.

“For me as a kid,” Suzuki said via interpreter Edwin Stanberry, “that’s something I’ve always wanted to do -- play for Team Japan. It is something special.”

Suzuki played for Japan in the World Baseball Classic as a 22-year-old in ’17, when the team went 6-1 with its only defeat to Team USA in the semifinals. He was just a kid when Japan won the Classic in 2006 and ’09, but watched many of those games on TV and hoped he might someday be in their shoes.

In 2023, when Suzuki was entering his second season in the Major Leagues after making the jump from Nippon Professional Baseball, a left oblique injury flared in late February. That took the Classic off the table for the outfielder.

“Hopefully for their sake, it’s a long run for them,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said of Team Japan’s chances this spring. “His injury in ’23 was just terrible timing. It was really bad timing. So, I know he’s excited to go play this year and he’ll be ready to go, and he’ll get back here for a little bit of time at the end.”

Team Japan will be a part of Pool C, which will play games between March 5-10 in Tokyo and also feature Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czechia and Korea. The plan right now calls for Suzuki to remain in camp with the Cubs through the upcoming weekend, departing for the Classic on Feb. 23 ahead of the rest of Chicago’s participants.

The Cubs have eight players from their 40-man roster (13 overall) slated to take part in this year’s WBC. That includes center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is set to suit up for Team USA and has an entertaining friendship with Suzuki.

Suzuki -- who could play some center field for Japan -- smiled when asked if any smack talk had started with Crow-Armstrong.

“I want to see Pete throw a helmet,” Suzuki joked. “And then if Pete hits a ball to center field, I want to make sure I catch it and dance.”

The 31-year-old Suzuki should be a potent bat for Team Japan, especially coming off an impressive campaign with the Cubs.

In his fourth MLB season, Suzuki set career highs in home runs (32), RBIs (103) and walks (71), while posting a .478 slugging percentage in 151 games. He excelled in the first half (.866 OPS), compared to after the All-Star break (.687 OPS), but Suzuki also ended on a strong run that carried into the postseason.

Over his final 10 games last year, Suzuki hit five homers with 12 RBIs and a 1.174 OPS. He then put up a .613 SLG in his eight playoff games, belting three homers with three doubles and five RBIs along the way. Suzuki became the first player in MLB history to end a regular season with a four-game homer streak to then homer in his first playoff game.

“I was really happy for him, the way it ended,” Hoyer said. “He was so dangerous for us at the end of the season and so dangerous in the postseason. And I think that was something that was really important to him. He’s a really, really good middle-of-the-order hitter.”