(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Chicago Cubs power-hitting outfielder Seiya Suzuki will not be available for Opening Day, manager Craig Counsell told the assembled media before Saturday's Cactus League game vs. Seattle in Peoria, Ariz.

The Cubs open the season at Wrigley Field vs. the Nationals on Thursday. Counsell ruled Suzuki out for that game, but not necessarily on the injured list.

'Look, we've had good days ever since he's been back to camp,' Counsell said. 'Opening Day, it's not going to happen. (He's) not going to be ready to play on Opening Day. Once you get past Opening Day, we've got to make a decision, does it just make sense to give him some time? We've got time to make that decision.'

Suzuki suffered a minor sprain of the right posterior cruciate ligament while attempting to steal second base in the first inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic quarterfinal loss on March 14 to eventual champion Venezuela.

Entering his fifth year with the Cubs, the 31-year old has done some throwing and hitting, but has not started any running drills.

Suzuki posted career highs a season ago with 32 home runs and 103 RBIs in 151 games played. In four seasons with the Cubs, he has hit for an average of .269, belted 87 home runs and driven in 296 runs.

He is in the final year of a five-year $85 million contract.

According to reports, non-roster invitee Michael Conforto has been informed that he will be added to the 40-man roster and begin the season in Chicago. Conforto is a ten-year big league outfielder, who has played with the New York Mets (2015-21), San Francisco Giants (2023-24) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2025). He has 179 home runs and 556 RBIs, including 33 and 92 respectively in 2019.

--Field Level Media