Seiya Suzuki Will Be Out For a While

The Chicago Cubs will be without right fielder Seiya Suzuki for an undetermined amount of time after MRI results revealed a moderate left oblique strain on the 28-year-old. Suzuki and Cubs manager David Ross will meet with reporters later this morning down in Mesa, Ariz.

The team announced Tuesday morning that as of now no official timetable has been set for Suzuki's recovery.

Suzuki was originally in Saturday's starting lineup for the Cubs' spring training opener against the San Francisco Giants, but he was scratched about an hour before first pitch. Suzuki was held out on Sunday and had imaging done then. On Monday night we learned that Suzuki had withdrawn from Team Japan and would no longer be playing in this year's World Baseball Classic.

Although the team hasn't set a timeframe for Suzuki we do have prior timelines to kind of get a sense of when the outfielder may return to the field. Back in 2021, Nico Hoerner was sidelined with an oblique strain of his own and after trying to get back in less than a month he was eventually out for a total of seven weeks.

Not all bodies recover the same, so it's possible Suzuki can come back faster or maybe take a little longer. Regardless, right now it's fair to say that the Cubs are most likely preparing to break camp without Suzuki once Opening Day arrives on March 30, against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jed Hoyer pretty much hinted at the oblique injury sidelining Suzuki and costing him the start of the season.

With Suzuki's oblique injury and him probably not being ready for Opening Day, a spot is now up for grabs on the Cubs roster. Right now, you probably put Nelson Velázquez at the top of the depth chart, but we'll probably see a few guys fill in for Suzuki in right field until he's healthy again. And if not Velázquez, keep on eye on non-roster invitee Mike Tauchman, who has the most outfield experience out of the possible replacements in right field.

Free agent pickup Trey Mancini can also slide into right field as well as Patrick Wisdom.

This sucks and there's never a good time for injuries, but I guess if you want some positivity, it's that because it did happen right now in spring training, then it does limit how much time Suzuki will miss in the regular season. Regardless, this is a bummer. No doubt about that.