A bulked-up Seiya Suzuki hopes to provide the power the Chicago Cubs need — and stay healthy — in Year 2 in the majors

MESA, Ariz. — Seiya Suzuki’s physical transformation is impossible to miss.

His bulked-up frame was part of a deliberate offseason approach that added 20 pounds to better prepare for the rigors of a 162-game season entering his second year as the Chicago Cubs right fielder. Suzuki felt his body didn’t hold up well over an inconsistent rookie season that tested the Japanese star on and off the field.

It led Suzuki to center his personal goals for 2023 on his health.

“Make sure I don’t get injured during the season,” he said through interpreter Toy Matsushita.

Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki throws during a spring training workout Feb. 15, 2023, in Mesa, Ariz. (Morry Gash / AP)

Suzuki, 28, played 111 games for the Cubs last year, missing five weeks because of a sprained left ring finger and 10 days to return to Japan for the birth of his child in September.

A better Cubs offense will require bounce-back seasons from offseason acquisitions Cody Bellinger and Eric Hosmer while needing Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner to replicate their best all-around performances.

But Suzuki is arguably the X-factor for the lineup’s potential.

“We knew he was working hard, but it’s fun to see him in person and realize that he wasn’t kidding about coming in stronger,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “When I look at our lineup, we have a lot of guys that we’re going to get really quality at-bats.

“We talked so much last year about power that we added some power this winter, but it’s not our strength. Having him continue to improve, continue to do what he did in April, having that kind of middle-of-the-order presence would go a long way for our offense.”

When Suzuki is locked in, he sprays the ball around the field and is especially good at hitting to the middle of the field. His elite plate discipline, rarely chasing pitches out of the zone, sets up Suzuki to do damage, especially against fastballs.

At times he was exposed last year on off-speed stuff, but his overall hitting profile blends the on-base and contact skills with power, a combination the Cubs need more of.

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Suzuki’s final 125 plate appearances (.315/.392/.514 slash line) show the type of game-changing hitter he could be if he reduces the extreme slumps.

“When he is healthy and the timing’s right for him in the box, he’s a really impactful player,” manager David Ross said. “The main thing for him is staying on the field, second time through the league, keeping his weight on — all the things that were a priority for him in the offseason I think will translate really well.”

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Although Suzuki’s transition to Major League Baseball involves a second consecutive abnormal spring training, he feels better equipped to handle the next few weeks despite a looming departure to join Team Japan in Tokyo for the World Baseball Classic.

The key this spring, Suzuki explained, is fully understanding the flow of a typical camp day.

“Last year I didn’t really know how the team worked out in terms of time management,” Suzuki said. “I was a little off last year, but this year I know what I want to do. I know what I want to work on.”

Suzuki wanted to add strength in the offseason to help generate more swing speed and, by extension, more power. The Cubs expect those adjustments to pay off.

“With all the travel schedules and all the different practice times, it does have a toll on my body,” Suzuki said. “So I know how it’s going to be going into the season. I just want to make sure I’m recovering properly and playing well.”