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5 Chicago Cubs players that may benefit from Seiya Suzuki injury
After reporting to Spring Training with a noticeable gain in muscle, Chicago Cubs starting right fielder Seiya Suzuki has withdrawn from participating in the World Baseball Class after suffering an oblique injury over the weekend.
There is no doubt that the injury to Suzuki deflated some of the optimism that had been emanating from the Cubs' Spring Training over the course of the past couple of weeks. Injuries limited Suzuki to 111 games during his rookie campaign with the Cubs in 2022 and the goal of his offseason program was to put his body in a position to withstand the grind of a 162-game Major League Baseball regular season schedule.
With Suzuki's status of Opening Day now in question, the Cubs will need to determine a solution for right field. Fortunately, there are three players on the team who could benefit from an extended look in the outfield this Spring.
5 Chicago Cubs players that may benefit from Seiya Suzuki injury - Brennen Davis
Of the Cubs' top outfield prospects in Davis, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kevin Alcantara, and Owen Caissie, Davis may be the prospect that is closest to reaching the Major League level. A back injury washed Davis' 2022 season away but the Cubs' prospect is fully healthy and has been active in the first string of Spring Training games for the Cubs.
When Suzuki was scratched from the starting lineup on Saturday, Davis was the immediate replacement. That could be an indicator that Cubs' manager David Ross feels Davis could be an option during the early portion of the season.
5 Chicago Cubs players that may benefit from Seiya Suzuki injury - Yonathan Perlaza
A breakout season with Double-A Tennessee in 2022 has placed Yonathan Perlaza on the map in regard to the Cubs' prospects to monitor in 2023. In 547 plate appearances with the Tennessee Smokies last season, Perlaza slashed .255/.358/.492 to go along with 23 home runs.
Perlaza has the ability to play multiple positions as over the course of his minor-league career thus far, the Cubs' prospect has appeared in games at second base as well each of the two corner outfield spots. Perlaza has played exclusively in the outfield during Cubs' Spring Training games so far this season. The Cubs may envision Perlaza having a similar ascension to the Major Leagues this season that Christopher Morel had in 2022.
5 Chicago Cubs players that may benefit from Seiya Suzuki injury - Matt Mervis
Matt Mervis was the talk of 2022 as well as the offseason for the Chicago Cubs. Mervis, an undrafted signing by the Cubs in 2020, had a breakout season in the minor-league system in 2022 as he clubbed 36 home runs across three levels. Mervis finished the 2022 season with Triple-A Iowa and that led to speculation that he may open the 2023 season with the Major League team.
Over the course of the offseason, the Cubs added a pair of veteran first basemen in Trey Mancini and Eric Hosmer. The initial plan was for Hsomer to get reps at first base while Mancini serves as the team's designated hitter. With Suzuki out indefinitely, the Cubs may turn to Mancini for right field. If Mancini gets extended reps in right field, that could create an opening for Mervis to be the team's designated hitter to start the season.
5 Chicago Cubs players that may benefit from Seiya Suzuki injury - Nelson Velazquez
Outfielder Nelson Velazquez got an extended look at the Major League level with the Cubs last season as he was with the team for 77 games but manager David Ross was cautious with when he would give the 24-year-old outfielder playing time. Velazquez slashed .205/.286/.373 in 206 plate appearances. Velazquez's advanced metrics would suggest that he may have better luck with more consistent playing time as he had a Hard Hit percentage of 41.7% last season while barreling the ball 13.3% of the time.
Entering Spring Training, the goal for Velazquez may have been to get regular playing time at the beginning of the season with Triple-A Iowa. Now, the Cubs have a temporary opening in right field. The opening would allow Velazquez to finally get adjusted to the Major League level while getting consistent plate appearances.
5 Chicago Cubs players that may benefit from Seiya Suzuki injury - Darius Hill
While Darius Hill is not a top prospect in the Cubs organization, the 25-year-old outfielder has the profile to be a productive player at the Major League level. Hill had 373 plate appearances with Triple-A Iowa season and slashed .318/.358/.434.
Hill put the ball in play frequently last season by evidence of his .364 BABIP with the Iowa Cubs while only striking out at a 14.2% clip. The Cubs have prioritized putting the ball in play at the Major League level and that could be the reason why Hill will be a candidate for an early call-up this season. If Hill makes the most of his playing time in Spring Training, he could make the Opening Day roster.
Next. Three Chicago Cubs who could be first-time All Starts in 2023. dark