March 24, 2026

Chicago Cubs designated hitter/outfielder Seiya Suzuki (knee) played in 151 games last season, blowing past previous career highs with 32 home runs and 103 RBI in 571 at-bats. As productive a season as it was, he stole 11 fewer bases (five) than in 2024, and his batting average dropped from .283 to .245. The double-digit steals were likely never going to stick, but the significant drop in BA is concerning. The right-handed slugger began 2025 strong, hitting .263 with a .363 wOBA and 136 wRC+ in the first half; however, in the second half, he posted a .213 BA, .310 wOBA, and 100 wRC+. A closer look, though, reveals that despite a large drop in BA, he actually saw a slight year-over-year improvement in both strikeout rate and contact rate, while maintaining a 93rd percentile chase rate and a 95th percentile barrel rate. One reason for the dip could be attributed to an abnormally low BABIP, which was .282 for the season and .252 in the second half, compared to a career BABIP of .347 before 2025. Expect a rebound to normalcy in 2026, with an improved BA to go along with solid HR, RBI, and run totals. The 31-year-old's poor second half appears seared into managers' minds, though, as his current NFBC ADP is around 95 overall, while RotoBaller holds a much more optimistic view, ranking him at 75 overall. Update 3/24/26: The Cubs placed Suzuki on the injured list with a strained PCL. It is not expected to be a long-term absence as he will likely return sometime in mid-April. With the latest news, Suzuki's rank has dropped several spots and is now ranked 134th overall in the latest RotoBaller rankings.--Jarod Rupp