SAN FRANCISCO (AP) 鈥� Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki left in the bottom of the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night due to right knee discomfort.
Suzuki was hurt while attempting to make a reaching catch on a flyball from Matt Chapman, coming up limping and grabbing at his right leg. Suzuki was replaced by right fielder Matt Shaw.
鈥淥nce I realized I couldn鈥檛 get the ball, I stopped,鈥� Suzuki said, describing the play postgame through a translator. 鈥淎nd then when I stopped, it鈥檚 kind of similar to what happened previously, where it felt like my knee kind of moved. 鈥� When I took that step, it just felt like my body moved forward.鈥�
Suzuki, who is in the final season of a , got hurt on March 14 while playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. He sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on .
But Suzuki said this latest right knee discomfort did not feel similar pain-wise to the injury he experienced in the WBC.
鈥淣ot to that extent,鈥� Suzuki said. 鈥淚t felt like my body was surprised. Had a reaction because it was something you don鈥檛 usually feel.鈥�
Cubs manager Craig Counsell did not express too much concern for Suzuki long term, saying initial reports after Suzuki left the game were 鈥減ositive.鈥� Regardless, Chicago will wait to see how Suzuki feels before determining any lineup decisions.
鈥淚鈥檓 wishing it鈥檚 not a big deal,鈥� Suzuki said. 鈥淲ake up tomorrow, see how everything feels. And if I can go from there, go for it. And if not, (we鈥檒l)see how it goes.鈥�
Before leaving, Suzuki went 1 for 2 with an RBI single and a walk. He is batting .252 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs after starting the season on the injured list.
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