Seiya Suzuki’s return to the Chicago Cubs lineup is getting closer.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced Tuesday that Suzuki will begin a minor league rehab assignment during the team’s upcoming road trip, a significant step forward in his recovery from a right knee injury suffered during the World Baseball Classic in March.
Counsell said he will begin his journey back to the team with Double-A Knoxville on Friday and expects him to stay with the team for around 3-7 days, per Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network.
Double-A Knoxville offers Suzuki the most time to get playing time, as the team will be at home from April 3 through April 12.
Before being cleared for the rehab assignment, Suzuki passed a series of physical tests on Tuesday at Wrigley Field that included defensive drills, baserunning and sliding, all movements that would put some stress on the knee. Getting through those drills without issue was the final hurdle before game action. Counsell noted that Suzuki’s ability to handle sudden movements and direction changes on the bases was key in clearing him for live reps.
Suzuki originally suffered the injury on March 14 during a stolen base attempt in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals against Venezuela. He was diagnosed with a mild posterior cruciate ligament sprain and has been recovering ever since, missing out on Chicago’s first week of the regular season entirely. The Cubs were hopeful for a quick return, but the recovery has taken longer than expected, making the rehab assignment a necessary step before being activated.
The Cubs will open their road trip Friday in Cleveland. From there, Chicago heads to Tampa Bay before returning home to host Pittsburgh on April 10, the most likely window for a return to the big league roster if rehab goes smoothly.
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His return can’t come soon enough for a Cubs offense that has missed his presence in the heart of the lineup. Suzuki slugged 32 home runs last year, driving in 103 runs for an .804 OPS, making him one of the team’s most important offensive pieces. In his absence, Matt Shaw and Michael Conforto have shared time in right field, but neither fills the void at the plate. Conforto is hitless in four games, with Shaw offering only two hits in 11 at-bats.
The Cubs enter Wednesday at 2-3 on the season. Getting Suzuki back healthy and productive is arguably the most important development they can have in April.
