Coming out of the All-Star break, Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki was struggling to convince manager David Ross he was worthy of an everyday lineup spot.

From July 14 through July 31, Suzuki was hitting a measly .214 with a .582 OPS and 21 strikeouts. At one point in early August, Ross benched the Japan native for three games in hopes that his bat would “reset.”

And it worked.

Since returning to the Cubs’ starting lineup on Aug. 9, Suzuki’s bat has been scorching hot, to say the least. In the last  month, he’s slashing .343 with 7 home runs, 24 RBIs. And here’s the nice thing: his offensive outburst has come at a crucial time for a Cubs team that’s fighting for a playoff spot.

Suzuki’s recent two-hit, three-RBI performance for example.

Or Tuesday night’s four-hit masterpiece.

To say Suzuki has come up clutch for the Cubs in the last month would be an understatement. It’s understandable if it goes under the radar from time to time because of Cody Bellinger’s MVP-caliber bat, or Justin Steele’s dominant performance on the mound all season, but it can’t go unnoticed.

Suzuki is one of the reasons why the Cubs are where they are right now in the playoff chase. And it’s a beautiful thing to watch. On the season, he holds a .275 batting average with 17 home runs, 28 doubles, 5 triples, 63 RBIs, and 49 walks for an .817 OPS.

One reason for Suzuki’s success in 2023? He hits the ball hard. According to Baseball Savant, the righty ranks in the 80th percentile in average exit velocity and hard-hit percentage, and the top 6% of the league in max exit velocity (114.6).

Oh, and another thing: Suzuki ranks in the 90th percentile in chase percentage, meaning he doesn’t swing at bad pitches very often.

Signing a five-year, $85 million contract before the 2022 season, there were a lot of questions concerning Suzuki as he began his tenure on the North Side.

Coming over from Japan, can Suzuki adjust to Major League pitching?

How does Suzuki fit in this Cubs lineup?

I think it’s safe to say Suzuki has adjusted just fine so far. And honestly, when it’s all said and done, Suzuki’s contract might be a steal.

The Cubs hope to finish off the season with a playoff berth, and if Suzuki’s bat continues to sizzle as it has been, don’t be surprised to see them playing late October baseball.

Source: https://ontapsportsnet.com/cubs/seiya-suzuki-stats-since-benching-chicago-cubs-playoff-position