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Seiya Suzuki 2022 Player Outlook: What To Expect From The Cubs New Star Outfielder
3 years agoJapanese star outfielder Seiya Suzuki agreed to a five-year, $70 million deal with the Chicago Cubs during the offseason. The 27-year-old will hit in the heart of the Cubs order and immediately become the team's starting right fielder. Suzuki has had a remarkable career in Japan. He heads to the US with a career .315/.414/.570 slash line in 902 games (3,539 plate appearances) over nine years. Suzuki had his best season in 2021. In 132 games (533 plate appearances), Suzuki hit .317/.433/.639 with 38 homers, 88 RBI, 77 runs, and nine steals. The home runs and slugging percentage were both career highs. As you can see, Suzuki compares well to some of the best Japanese players to have played in the US. He has more power than Ichiro Suzuki but less speed. He has more speed than Hideki Matsui but less power. His slash line falls between Matsui and Ichiro, while his closest comparison is with Kosuke Fukudome. What should fantasy managers expect from him in 2022? ATC projects Suzuki with a .266/.357/.474 slash line, 22 home runs, 68 RBI, 65 runs, and seven stolen bases over 518 plate appearances in 2022. The upside is there for Suzuki to produce right away and become a top-20 fantasy outfielder in his MLB rookie season.
