Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki, who is dealing with left oblique tightness, withdrew from Japan’s roster for the World Baseball Classic.
The Cubs announced Monday night that Suzuki was officially out of the WBC but that additional details about his injury and spring training status would come at a later date.
Imaging results were reviewed Sunday and Monday after Suzuki was a late scratch from the Cubs’ lineup Saturday.
Suzuki, 28, hit .262 last season with 14 home runs and 46 RBIs in 111 games.
Cubs manager David Ross said he wasn’t ready to discuss what the injury might mean for Suzuki or Chicago’s Opening Day roster.
If Suzuki misses several weeks, the Cubs could use Trey Mancini and Patrick Wisdom in right field to open the 2023 season. Wisdom, primarily a third baseman, and Mancini could platoon depending on Ross’ preference at designated hitter and first base.
Suzuki was on Japan’s roster for the 2017 WBC and played on Japan’s gold-medal team in the one-year delayed Tokyo Olympics. Japanese news agency Kyodo reported that Hanshin Tigers outfielder Koji Chikamoto is a possible replacement.
The World Baseball Classic opens March 8 and ends March 21. Japan opens March 9 at the Tokyo Dome against China.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.