Overview
- Three Cubs are set for the World Baseball Classic from March 5–17: Seiya Suzuki with Japan and Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman with Team USA.
- Suzuki is slated to play center field for Japan and will get center-field reps for the Cubs in Cactus League games Friday and Sunday before departing Monday.
- At camp, Suzuki joked he wants to see Crow-Armstrong “throw a helmet” and said he hopes to catch a PCA fly ball and dance on it.
- After withdrawing from the 2023 WBC with an oblique strain, Suzuki views this tournament as a springboard following a hot-cold 2025 and has emphasized improving his contact rate.
- Chicago plans to move Suzuki back to right field for the 2026 season after he spent last year primarily as the designated hitter.