Just over a year ago, at the 2025 Cubs Convention, Craig Counsell made it clear: Seiya Suzuki was going to be the team’s primary designated hitter. At the time, that announcement raised some eyebrows-not because Suzuki couldn’t hit, but because it signaled a shift in how the Cubs viewed his glove. His defense in right field had been shaky through his first three seasons in Chicago, and with Kyle Tucker arriving via trade from Houston, the writing seemed to be on the wall: Suzuki’s days as an everyday outfielder might be over.

That context made the move notable. After all, this was a player who’d won the Japanese equivalent of a Gold Glove before coming stateside. And his agent, Joel Wolfe, even went on record saying Suzuki might not have signed with the Cubs at all had he known he’d be taken out of the field.

But fast forward to the start of 2026 Spring Training, and the narrative has shifted once again. Kyle Tucker is now in Los Angeles.

Owen Caissie, the Cubs’ top outfield prospect, was shipped to Miami in a deal to bring in right-hander Edward Cabrera. And the designated hitter role?

That’s shaping up to be Moises Ballesteros’s job to lose. All signs point to Suzuki heading back to right field-and this time, it’s not just a temporary fix.

On Friday, Counsell made it official: Suzuki is returning to the outfield. And not just occasionally-he’ll be out there regularly.

“We’re gonna see him in right field a lot, and I’m looking forward to it,” Counsell told reporters. He also emphasized that Suzuki’s defense was never the issue that some made it out to be. The decision to make him the DH was more about maximizing the roster when Tucker was in town than it was about hiding Suzuki’s glove.

That confidence from Counsell is backed by the numbers. While Suzuki’s defensive highlights haven’t exactly gone viral for the right reasons, his overall metrics aren’t as dire as the eye test might suggest.

He’s posted -4 Defensive Runs Saved and -6 Outs Above Average over his MLB career, which places him in the lower tier among right fielders. But that’s not the whole story.

Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR), which offers a more comprehensive picture of defensive value, paints a more favorable portrait. Suzuki holds a career UZR of 3.2 across nearly 3,000 innings in right.

That ranks him 12th among all right fielders with at least 1,000 innings since he debuted in 2022. Not elite, but certainly serviceable-especially when you factor in his above-average arm strength.

And this year, he’ll have some help. Pete Crow-Armstrong, one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, will be covering ground next to him. That kind of elite range in center can mask some of the limitations in right and make life a little easier for Suzuki.

But let’s be honest: Suzuki’s real value to the Cubs has always been with the bat. He’s one of the team’s biggest power threats, and last season he showed why, launching a career-high 32 home runs. He finished with a .245/.326/.478 slash line and a 123 wRC+-numbers that speak to his ability to impact a game even when he’s not scorching hot.

Interestingly, Suzuki has historically hit better when he’s also playing the field. As a designated hitter, he owns a .253/.340/.435 slash line.

When he’s manning right field, those numbers jump to .278/.350/.487. That kind of split suggests that staying engaged on both sides of the ball might actually benefit his offensive rhythm.

Of course, Counsell isn’t locking Suzuki into right field every single day. The Cubs have built a roster with flexibility in mind, and that includes giving guys rest when needed.

If Ballesteros gets a day off behind the plate, Suzuki can slide back into the DH spot. If Ian Happ needs a breather in left, Suzuki could shift over.

There’s also Kevin Alcantara, Chas McCormick, and a handful of minor league outfielders who could break camp with the big club and help rotate through the corners.

There’s even been talk of Matt Shaw getting some outfield reps, though it remains to be seen how seriously that experiment will be taken once the games start to count.

Bottom line: the Cubs are giving Suzuki another shot in right field, not because they have to, but because they believe in what he can bring-both at the plate and, yes, in the field. And if he can stay healthy and productive, that belief could pay big dividends in 2026.