This Cub is ready to lead Japan’s outfield at Classic
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This was no shock for the Cubs, who’re additionally wanting ahead to Suzuki constructing on his rookie season and being a key a part of the 2023 offense. The problem forward for each Suzuki and the Cubs might be balancing his participation within the Classic with Japan and getting ready for the 162-game season forward for the North Siders.
“We’ve had a lot of conversations about it,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer stated on the Winter Meetings. “I actually need him to play. I believe it is an incredible honor to have the ability to characterize your nation and he is executed {that a} couple occasions — within the Olympics and within the WBC — which is unbelievable.
“What I want is the best for both worlds. I want him to be able to represent his country and I want him to have a really smooth Spring Training and get ready for the season. Hopefully, we can accomplish both.”
Japan is a part of Pool B within the World Baseball Classic, together with Australia, China, the Czech Republic and Korea. For these groups, pool play will happen from March 9-13 on the Tokyo Dome, adopted by the quarterfinals on March 15-16 on the identical web site. The Classic semifinals (March 19-20) and finals (March 21) will happen at loanDepot park in Miami.
That means Suzuki could possibly be in Japan (and Florida) for a substantial chunk of Spring Training, whereas the Cubs prepare at Sloan Park and their Mesa, Ariz., facility. This comes after Suzuki signed a five-year cope with Chicago on March 18 final yr, following baseball’s lockout interval. It would mark two irregular springs in a row for a participant who simply skilled the Majors for the primary time.
Some damage setbacks restricted the 28-year-old Suzuki to 111 video games final season, when he completed hitting .262/.336/.433 with 14 homers, 22 doubles, 46 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. His season consisted of an incredible April (.934 OPS), a robust closing month (.847 OPS) and a some trials within the interval in-between (.703 OPS).
“It’s been a rocky year with everything and health concerns and playing time and everything considered,” Team Japan supervisor Hideki Kuriyama instructed reporters through an interpreter on the Winter Meetings. “But there is no doubt that he is the No. 1 outfielder in Japan, and we actually need him to play on this crew.”
During a chat on the current Winter Meetings, Cubs supervisor David Ross didn’t sound too involved when requested about Suzuki’s participation within the Classic.
“I put myself in his shoes,” Ross stated. “I might’ve liked to have performed for Team USA. Like, how cool is that? You’re going to get into the perfect competitors on the planet and have the ability to compete at a excessive degree to your nation. I might by no means need to take that away from anyone and all the time form of push that have. You ought to play if that is what your coronary heart is.
“He’s our beginning proper fielder. He’s going to be within the lineup, whether or not you’ve got a clear Spring Training, or issues aren’t excellent to start out or no matter, if that was the case. Or, perhaps he begins on hearth due to already going through nice pitching. None of us know that.
“But I don’t think that’d be something we’ll blame or make an excuse. It doesn’t matter. You’ve got to go out and play and perform and win games. He’s our starting right fielder. He’ll be prepared. He works his tail off.”
