Outfielder Seiya Suzuki is set to return to the Chicago Cubs after Team Japan’s run in the World Baseball Classic ended on Saturday, but his availability moving forward is in question with a right knee injury.
Suzuki was injured in the first inning of Saturday’s WBC-ending defeat to Venezuela when he tried to steal second base. He immediately left the game with what was called right knee discomfort.
“We need to see him. He’s on a flight back here, lands sometime later today, late this afternoon,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters from spring training at Mesa, Ariz., on Sunday morning. “I think it’s going to take us through (Monday), probably, to get our hands on Seiya and see what’s going on. I think it’s just best we wait and see and let our doctors and trainers take a look at him and see what’s going on.”