SAN FRANCISCO — An awkward attempt to make a catch resulted in Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki exiting Saturday’s game against the San Francisco Giants with right knee discomfort.
Suzuki walked off the field gingerly during the bottom of the fourth inning with manager Craig Counsell and a trainer after he stumbled and had his foot get caught in the grass at Oracle Park trying to make a catch. He got up limping as he ran after the ball that went for a Matt Chapman single. It’s the same knee he hurt during the World Baseball Classic that caused him to miss the first 12 games of the season.
Matt Shaw replaced Suzuki in right field.
Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki, second from left, walks off the field with his interpreter, left, manager Craig Counsell, second from right, and a trainer, right, after being injured while attempting to catch a fly ball during the fourth inning against the Giants on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in San Francisco. (Scott Marshall/AP)
Suzuki has been playing the best defense of his major-league career this season, taking huge strides in route efficiency and first-step reaction time. He made a stellar grab in the third inning, robbing Giants catcher Eric Haase of a hit by covering 88 feet in 28.8 feet per second to make a sliding grab to his left toward the right-field foul line. The ball had a 25% catch probability. Suzuki also recorded an outfield assist in the first by nabbing Bryce Eldridge trying to stretch a single into a double.
Suzuki’s 3 Outs Above Average (OAA) are tied for fourth most among MLB right fielders while he is tied for third in Fielding Run Value (four) this season.
The Cubs secured their first series win in five weeks with Saturday’s 6-1 victory over the Giants. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ and Pedro Ramírez each hit home runs to lead the offense while right-hander Ben Brown held the Giants to one run in five innings to keep his ERA to 1.74.
The Cubs (37-34) have won three consecutive games for the first time since their 10-game winning streak ended May 8.