Suzuki received a green light in his recovery this week and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee on Friday. According to Taylor McGregor, Counsell indicated that the Japanese standout could rejoin the big-league club in as little as three to seven days.

The return of a foundational pillar like Suzuki provides a much-needed boost to a Cubs offense that has struggled to find its rhythm. While top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong has flashed potential after being extended by the Cubs, getting Suzuki’s veteran bat back into the heart of the order is a top priority for a team looking to climb above .500.

Tracking Suzuki’s injury

Suzuki’s stint on the shelf dates back to March, when he suffered a right knee PCL sprain while representing Team Japan in a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal matchup against Venezuela.

The Cubs’ medical staff opted for a cautious approach, placing him on the 10-day Injured List. While the sprain wasn’t considered severe, the team prioritized rest and localized strengthening to ensure the outfielder would be at 100% for the long haul of the 162-game season.

Bridging the gap

In Suzuki’s absence, Michael Conforto has been tasked with anchoring the vacancy in the outfield. While Conforto hasn’t quite found his power stroke early on, his plate discipline has remained a bright spot; he currently sports an on-base percentage (OBP) hovering around .330.

Here is a look at how Comforto has fared through the first five games of the season:

According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, Seiya Suzuki is on the team’s shortlist of possible signings. It is also reported that as many as eight MLB teams may want Suzuki’s signature with some virtual meetings having taken place and in-person meetings set for post-lockout.

For the Rangers, Suzuki would be an interesting signing given his offensive firepower and excellent defensive play. Here are some stats for the Texas Rangers target Seiya Suzuki.

Seiya Suzuki Stats

Seiya Suzuki is one of Japan’s best hitters and is considered one of the best players in the country. This season alone Suzuki hit 38 home runs, 26 doubles, and nine steals. Since 2018, Suzuki has hit 121 home runs, 115 doubles, and four triples.

Suzuki has also won an Olympic gold medal for Japan in 2020 and a gold medal in the WBSC Premier12 in 2019. He is also a three-time Central League Golden Glove Award winner (2016, 2017, 2019).

Now, Dave Roberts’ team faces an offseason with less money than they’d like. They risk losing several top-tier assets like Max Scherzer and Corey Seager, so they’ll have to dig deep into the market to try and fill those voids.

That’s why it’s not a surprise to see them trying to make a run at one of the offseason’s hottest free agents: Japanese star Seiya Suzuki, who was finally posted by the Hiroshima Carp of the NPB on Monday, according to a report by David Vassegh of Dodger Talk.

MLB News: Dodgers Want To Sign Seiya Suzuki

“#Dodgers have shown interest in Japanese OF, Seiya Suzuki who will be posted today.@USABaseballManager, Mike Scioscia managed vs Suzuki in Olympics. He believes Seiya Suzuki will hit with power in MLB and has “Tremendous throwing arm from Right Field” #HotStove,” tweeted Vassegh.

Who’s Seiya Suzuki?

Suzuki has drawn comparisons to Japanese legend Hideki Matsui. He’s a powerful hitter and an outstanding defender, although he’s not exactly fast. Even so, he’s reportedly the best Japanese player to come since Shohei Ohtani:

(via CBS Sports)

“Seiya Suzuki is expected to be submitted through the posting system by the Hiroshima Carp once the Japan Series concludes in late November. He’s a five-time All-Star in Nippon Professional Baseball with a career .315/.415/.571 slash line who boasts a well-rounded game. In addition to posting above-average exit velocities, he’s walked more than he’s struck out in two of the past three years. (In 2020, the exception, he finished with one fewer walk than strikeout.) Suzuki also has a high-grade arm that should allow him to make an impact on defense. The one blemish in his game is that he’s not a particularly skilled base stealer. Teams will gladly overlook that.”

The Dodgers will face plenty of competition to acquire his services, as the Cubs, Giants, Yankees, Angels, Rangers, and many others are also expected to try and make a run at the Japanese star.