Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki exited Japan's World Baseball Classic quarterfinal against Venezuela after suffering right knee discomfort while attempting to steal second base. The 31-year-old, who was thrown out at the base, limped off the field with a trainer and struggled to walk down the dugout steps.

Shota Morishita replaced Suzuki in center field and immediately made an impact, hitting a three-run homer in the third inning to give Japan a 5-2 lead. Team Japan stated Suzuki is still being evaluated, leaving his status uncertain for the remainder of the tournament. Suzuki batted third for Japan and was hitting .333 with two home runs and six walks in the tournament.

The injury comes as a significant concern for the Cubs with Opening Day less than two weeks away. Suzuki, who primarily played right field for Chicago last season, hit .245 with 32 home runs and an .804 OPS in 2025. His potential absence would be a major blow to both Japan's WBC hopes and Chicago's outfield depth heading into the regular season.