Cubs' Seiya Suzuki to open season on the injured list

MESA, Ariz. — Cubs manager Craig Counsell made it official Monday and said right fielder Seiya Suzuki will begin the season on the injured list.

It might not be a long stint — the move could be backdated to Sunday, allowing Suzuki to join the Cubs as early as April 1, when they close out their first homestand against the Angels. But the following series next weekend in Cleveland could be the earliest he returns, Counsell suggested.

“We’ve got to have a good week,” Counsell said. “Then we can more accurately tell you when he’s going to be back.”

Suzuki, who has a sprain of the posterior cruciate ligament, is wearing a brace on his right knee that is “uncomfortable,” he said through a translator, but it allows him to work. He planned to run Monday — although not at full speed — and hit indoors.

“We have to just keep taking steps right now,” Counsell said.

It hasn’t been decided whether Suzuki stays in Arizona or travels with the team to rehab in Chicago, where the Cubs open the season Thursday against the Nationals.

“I was worried at the beginning, but day-to-day, the pain has gone down, and it’s been feeling better each day,” Suzuki said. “Obviously, you don’t want to rush it.”

Decisions, decisions

Super-utility man Matt Shaw played right field Monday in the Cubs’ second-to-last Cactus League game after outfielder Michael Conforto was informed Saturday he’s on the team.

Counsell said decisions about the last two bench spots had not yet been made. Dylan Carlson and Kevin Alcantara are in contention for an outfield bench spot. Counsell said he’d prefer having another infielder on the roster in addition to Shaw, who could be needed in the outfield. Scott Kingery is a possibility.

Assad optioned, Brown makes roster

Right-hander Javier Assad was optioned to Triple-A, where he will be a starter, giving right-hander Ben Brown the last remaining spot on the big-league pitching staff. Brown, who made 15 starts and 10 relief appearances last season, was stretched out this spring but will pitch out of the bullpen, an eight-man unit that also will include right-handers Daniel Palencia, Colin Rea, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey and Jacob Webb and left-handers Caleb Thielbar and Hoby Milner.

Brown and Rea will give Counsell multi-inning options.

“Two guys with length abilities can really help manage the innings workload,” he said. “Knowing the nature of where the starters and relievers are at the start of the season, with the schedule, you want to be careful.”

Extension for PCA?

ESPN reported that the Cubs and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong are nearing agreement on a long-term contract extension.

Crow-Armstrong, who will turn 24 on Wednesday, slashed .247/.287/.481 with 31 homers and 95 RBI last season, when he earned an All-Star nod and a Gold Glove. He also played for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic this month.

He joined the Cubs in July 2021 in a trade with the Mets for Javy Baez and Trevor Williams.

Ready, set, Sho

Facing the top of the Yankees’ lineup Monday, lefty Shota Imanaga allowed some hard contact, including a 117 mph single by Giancarlo Stanton, but managed to keep the Yanks in the yard after allowing five homers this spring. He navigated through five innings of two-run ball, allowing seven hits and two walks. He struck out five and had 17 swings and misses.

Imanaga finishes spring play with a 4.50 ERA over 18 innings, with 18 strikeouts and three walks.

“It was a good spring training,” concluded Imanaga, who said facing the Yankees before a full house had a regular-season feel and will be a nice springboard into his first start Sunday against the Nationals.

CUBS 15, YANKEES 6

The Cubs pounded much-touted pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange for six runs and nine hits, including back-to-back home runs by Michael Busch and Alex Bregman, who hit his second in two games. Right fielder Matt Shaw, wrapping up a strong spring offensively (.320 average, .920 OPS) while playing multiple positions, also homered after Lagrange was pulled.

• Nico Hoerner, Busch, Bregman, Carson Kelly and Michael Conforto (four RBI) combined to go 12-for-15 on another record 100-degree day at Sloan Park. Kelly, Bregman and Conforto (.324) each doubled. Bregman is 10-for-20 with three homers and four doubles this spring.

• Daniel Palencia, the star closer for Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic, got two fly outs and a strikeout in a perfect sixth inning in relief of Shota Imanaga in what will be his only post-WBC inning before Opening Day on Thursday. Reliever Jacob Webb threw 15 of 20 pitches for strikes but gave up four hits, including homers by Spencer Jones
and Max Schuemann, in two-thirds of
an inning.

• On deck: Yankees at Cubs, 2:05 p.m. Tuesday, Mesa, Gerrit Cole vs. Edward Cabrera.

Contributing: Sun-Times wires