The Chicago Cubs intend to make the most of their stay in Japan in order to strengthen their team and jumpstart their postseason run.
As long as they first get enough sleep.
Outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who, along with Japanese teammate Shota Imanaga, is a major draw for local fans at the Tokyo Series, which will begin the 2025 MLB season on March 18 and 19 at Tokyo Dome and feature the Cubs against the Los Angeles Dodgers and their Japanese trio of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki, declared, “I’m sleepy.”
“As much as anything, this was the word kizuna, which is like a Japanese word for bond. That started for our team last night, I thought, with a great party and being able to be together. This is the start of the journey for our team.”
On Friday, it was back to work, as the Cubs held a workout at Tokyo Dome.
“Last night, when it was time to have fun, everyone enjoyed themselves,” Imanaga said. “Then from the time we entered the stadium today, the focus was on our preparation.”
The Cubs were 83-79 last season. The team finished 10 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and also missed out on a wild-card berth. Chicago made a splash in the offseason by trading for outfielder Kyle Tucker, an All-Star the past three seasons, and also signed infielder Justin Turner.
Imanaga is in his second season with the team. He was 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 2024 and made the All-Star team. Suzuki hit .283 with 21 homers and is entering his fourth season with the club.
“These are two of our most important players,” Counsell said of his Japanese stars. “The Chicago Cubs need Shota and Seiya to be great players to accomplish what we want to accomplish.
“What Shota did last year, I think, in his first year in Major League Baseball, we all got to enjoy that, Japanese baseball fans, American baseball fans, not just Cubs fans, I think he had a season worthy of everybody enjoying (it).
“From Seiya’s perspective, I think he continues to grow as an offensive player, and we really, believe that there’s another season in there that shows him as one of the best, really one of the elite hitters in Major League Baseball.”
Imanaga will start the opener for Chicago against Los Angeles’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the first matchup of Japanese pitchers on opening day in MLB.
“As far as Imanaga, it’s a sneaky fastball and it’s a good changeup,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “If we can stay off that changeup then we’ve got a good chance.”
Counsell said being in Japan is meaningful for the team, not only because it helps the global profile of the sport, but because of what it means for Imanaga and Suzuki.
“This is probably the next part of the trip that is so fun for us,” he said. “We get to honor our teammates by coming to their home country. At the same time, understanding that for the Cubs players and the Japanese players and the Dodgers that this is a really hard trip.
“It means so much to you, and kind of the added, frankly, pressure that goes with that. But last night, I thought Seiya and Shota were their normal, graceful selves. They’re proud, and they’re happy. That’s what’s so evident is they’re happy and they’re joyful they get to share this with us.”
