When the Chicago Cubs signed Seiya Suzuki ahead of the 2022 season, big things were expected of him.
He had been a monster in his native Japan, after all.
Then, in 2022 and 2023, he returned wRC+ (a stat that assesses offensive performance relative to the league average) finishes of 116 and 126, respectively.
While that’s comfortably above-average, those who watched him in Japan know he is capable of much more.
Maybe 2024 is the season in which he puts it all together and fully breaks out.
If his spring training performance is any indication, he is primed for his best season as a major leaguer.
On Monday, the outfielder hit his fifth home run of the spring.
Five blasts on the spring for Seiya Suzuki! pic.twitter.com/yFEtIrdWPn
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 25, 2024
With the blast, the talented slugger took his spring training average to .444 and his OPS to a fine 1.500.
The expectation is that he will bat second to open the season, which will be excellent for his run-scoring chances.
Suzuki is in his prime (29 years old), he already knows the league, and he will have a stronger supporting cast around him.
Everything is in place for him to have a breakthrough campaign in 2024, which is impressive considering he already hit .285/.357/.485 with 20 home runs in 2023.
The Cubs improved their rotation and brought back Cody Bellinger for the lineup, not to mention future star Michael Busch.
They should have a really dangerous lineup this year, and Suzuki can very well be the X-factor.
If he manages to take that step forward this season, the Cubs have a chance to do something really special.
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