Overview
- The Cubs, which outlined the plan Sunday, expect to bring Suzuki off the 10-day injured list before Friday’s opener against the Pirates.
- Suzuki is three games into a Double-A Knoxville rehab and is slated to play Tuesday and Wednesday to build at-bats and show he can handle right field.
- Manager Craig Counsell said the decision hinges on timing and reps after a mild PCL sprain in the World Baseball Classic halted Suzuki’s spring on March 14.
- His return would likely cut Matt Shaw’s right-field time and could prompt moves involving Moises Ballesteros or veteran depth, according to team-focused reporting.
- This season is the final year of Suzuki’s five-year, $85 million deal, and a healthy return could lift a lineup batting .206 with a .335 slugging percentage.