The Chicago Cubs are coming off one of their most disappointing season in recent years. While they hope star players like Kyle Hendricks and Ian Happ will have an improved year, they also added plenty of new faces. Jonathan Villar and Andrelton Simmons look to help bolster Chicago’s infield. And Drew Smyly, Daniel Norris, Chris Martin and David Robertson add much-needed pitching depth. However, the Cubs also made a splash signing Japenese outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who the Cubs hope can contribute immediately.
Suzuki has already gotten plenty of league attention. MLB.com recently ranked the outfielder first in their National League Rookie of the Year predictions. The article said the following of Chicago’s big signing.
“This is definitely a matter of talent meeting opportunity. Suzuki, who has played nine seasons in NPB in Japan, will play regularly for the Cubs, and he’s a relatively known quantity. The guy can hit. The 27-year-old outfielder smacked 38 homers for Hiroshima last year, and has four straight seasons of at least a .300 average, .400 on-base percentage and .500 slugging. Oh, and he also has more than 100 career steals in NPB. He’s not ranked as a prospect, but that’s due to experience in Japan, not ability.“
Suzuki, is coming off of a career year with the Hiroshima Carp. The outfielder posted a 1.069 OPS and hit a career-high 38 home runs. Signing him to a five-year deal was a giant move for the Cubs organization.
How the Japanese star transitions to the big leagues is yet to be seen, but the Cubs hope he can live up to his status as the most prized international signing this winter.
Suzuki has already been reported to be a clubhouse fit for Chicago. David Ross has shared stories on the fun and sense of humor that Suzuki brings into the Clubhouse.
“It’s been pretty fun so far,” Ross said. “I was in the weight room the other day and I was eating some trail mix. He came up to me and pointed to the trail mix. He said, ‘Is that chocolate?’ I said, ‘No, it’s a trail mix. It’s like a snack.’ He said, ‘No, no, no, is there chocolate in the trail mix?’ I said, ‘Oh, yeah, yeah, it has chocolate.’ He then reached over and rubbed my belly saying, ‘Chocolate.’ He is way too comfortable with that already.”
Despite a slow spring training start, for good reason Seiya Suzuki is the favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year award.
