An oblique injury, suffered early in spring training, put Suzuki on the injured list to begin the 2023 season. He then endured some ups and downs in the first half, bottoming out with a .475 OPS in the month of June, before exploding for a .313/.372/.566 line and 13 home runs after the All-Star break. He finished with a 126 wRC+ for the season (100 is average). Pretty much everything was up for Suzuki across the board from his debut season in MLB after a storied career in his native Japan, with the exception being steals as his total fell to from nine to six even with more playing time and the rule changes benefitting stolen bases. While speed isn't a huge part of his game, there may still be some sleeper potential here if you believe in his second-half surge. Suzuki, now 29, projects to remain a near-everyday outfielder and middle-of-the-order presence under new Cubs manager Craig Counsell. Read Past Outlooks