ODDS and EVENS | Seiya Suzuki Providing Potent Run Production for the Cubs

Statistics document the impact that Seiya Suzuki is making for the Chicago Cubs in the 2025 MLB season.

Most notably, the Tokyo native has 67 RBIs, tied for the National League lead with Eugenio Suarez of the Arizona Diamondbacks, through Wednesday, June 25.

And after slugging 21 home runs for the Cubs in 2024, his third MLB season, Suzuki already has 21 with three full months of games remaining this season. The hard-swinging slugger's productivity in the batter's box has helped the NL Central-leading Cubs (47-33) have a successful season to date.

Lobbying for Seiya Suzuki to Be an All-Star

Suzuki's teammates are making a convincing case that he deserves to be named to the NL All-Star team, even though Shohei Ohtani is the runaway leader in fan voting for designated hitters and will be the starter at that position. The All-Star Game is on July 15 in Atlanta.

"It's pretty obvious that Shohei is going to be the guy in that spot," Cubs left fielder Ian Happ commented on the "Rahimi & Harris Show," a Chicago sports talk show, on Tuesday, June 17. "But I really hope the coaches vote and Seiya gets in there. He really, really deserves it. The year he's had, what he's done in his career to this point, like, he deserves to be in that game. So, I really hope that he gets in there."

Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner praised Suzuki's overall performance this season on another Chicago radio program on June 17.

"Seiya has been really incredible," Hoerner said on the "Spiegel & Holmes Show." "We're not in our position as a team without everything that he's done as a player, just as a staple in the middle of the lineup, the way he's hit with runners in scoring position, impactful homers, the raw numbers, playing good defense when he was out there.

"I think the world of Seiya. He's been a great player in this league for a while. But I think he's taken another step this year. And I think an All-Star nod would really solidify that in a pretty cool way."

A Closer Look at Seiya Suzuki's Numbers

As Hoerner noted, Suzuki has been a clutch hitter this season for the Cubs. He's absolutely correct ― three facets of situational hitting underscore that point.

In making the argument that Suzuki should be an MLB All-Star for the first time, you can't ignore how he's hit with runners in scoring position (RISP), with runners in scoring position and two outs, and with the bases loaded.

Suzuki, who was a five-time NPB All-Star during the earlier chapter of his career with the Hiroshima Carp (2013-21), is batting .317 (26-for-82) with runners in scoring position. This includes 12 extra-base hits, eight homers and 47 RBIs. In other words, he's stepped up and delivered key hits again and again to help the Cubbies score runs.

With RISP and two outs, Suzuki has thrived. He's 12-for-34 (.353) with five homers and 21 RBIs.

And with the bases loaded, he's batting at a .600 clip (6-for-10) with 10 RBIs.

"This year, I'm conscious of swinging aggressively without fearing strikeouts," Suzuki said, according to Kyodo News, on June 17. "I'm managing to hit the ball at the right point."

Seiya Suzuki a three-run homer in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 17. (KYODO) — *Seiya Suzuki (KYODO)*

'He's Just Hitting the Ball Hard'

A career .315 hitter with the Carp, Suzuki had batting averages of .262, .285 and .283 in 2022, 2023 and '24 for Chicago.

Hitting with more power this season (he's already matched his MLB season-high total set in 2024), Suzuki is an important part of the Cubs' offense.

"The power and the big swing of the bat, the three-run homers are [huge]," Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters in a pregame interview on Wednesday, June 25. "On most nights you hit a three-run homer, you feel like you have a pretty good chance to win the game."

Asked to pinpoint the reason for Suzuki's increased power this season as a hitter, Counsell said "no."

The Cubs skipper then added, "I mean, I think he's just hitting the ball hard, he's obviously getting the ball in the air a little better."

Counsell went on to describe what he's seeing from the dugout when Suzuki smashes the ball over the fence.

"More of his home runs are like the one he hit last night, which are just a line drive rather than a towering majestic home run," Counsell said. "That's just the nature of Seiya's swing path and ball flight."

A Friendly Competition Between Sluggers

Suzuki belted two homers in a 6-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on June 7. In his article on the game, Chicago Tribune baseball reporter Paul Sullivan noted that the Japanese slugger and teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong are engaged in a friendly competition to be the team leader in homers and RBIs.

They challenge each other to drive in runs and hit the ball over the fence.

"Seiya says when he hits a home run, I have to as well," Crow-Armstrong was quoted as saying by the Chicago Tribune. "If that turns into real motivation, it's great."

Crow-Armstrong also has 21 homers to date. He has 61 RBIs.

Seiya Suzuki and his American teammate form a potent one-two punch in the heart of Chicago's batting lineup. And their productivity is directly linked to the team's success this season.

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.