Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki Are Major Weapons For Cubs, But Only If Deployed Properly

[RavenCub30]

My kind of town, my kind of players.

When it comes to offense, Seiya Suzuki and the freshly opted-in Cody Bellinger are two of the North Siders' most reliable sources. Defensively? Well, that's a topic we Chicagoans like to mull over with an ice-cold brew from Spiteful Brewing Company. With these two now a fixture in the Cubs' middle of the lineup, how can Craig Counsell get the most out of his duo of high-profile sluggers on the defensive side of the ball?

Image courtesy of © David Banks-Imagn Images

Come with me on a reluctant journey to September 27th, 2023, where we find our Chicago Cubs, led by former skipper David Ross, chasing a surprise postseason berth. With the Cubs leading the Atlanta Braves 6-5 in the home half of a two-out eighth inning from Truist Park, Braves catcher Sean Murphy sent Drew Smyly's 3-2 pitch off the end of his bat and into mid-right-center field. Calling off center fielder Cody Bellinger, Suzuki charged in to make the third out and preserve his club's late lead... and missed it.

The ball dropped in, allowing the Braves to plate what would become the winning run. That moment is now seared into the brains of Chicago sports fans' craniums with the infamous likes of Cody Parkey and, yes, Steve Bartman. Though painful to admit, this was not the last time the Cubbies' right-hander would make a mistake like this, though not always with quite as consequential stakes. He is a defensive liability in right field, and with Cody Bellinger fully ready to take over the position, Suzuki should be shifted to designated hitter. 

Perhaps that shift already happened, as Cody Bellinger started 33 of the Cubs' last 40 games in right field, while Suzuki spent that time as the designated hitter. As the squad's offense all but disappeared through the middle of the summer, Seiya Suzuki produced at a respectable clip in 2024: 21 homers, 73 RBI, and an .848 OPS. Suzuki didn't necessarily shine like the top of Hancock Tower, but he didn't hurt his club's chances either. With his power and increase in plate discipline, the Cubs' 29-year-old is still well-positioned to help the North Siders breakthrough in 2025. 

If nothing else, Cody Bellinger is a name people in baseball respect. His resurgence as a bonafide superstar since arriving in Wrigleyville is no fluke. As the 2025 season will no doubt see Belli blast his 200th career home run, he also boasts an OPS of .818 over eight big league seasons. We know he can hit the ball, but the Cubs desperately need someone to catch it, too. As luck would have it, he can do that as well. In 2024, Bellinger had an 87% catch rate. It's a tough ask to say much of anything was good for the Cubs last season, given the expectation for the club, but that's pretty good. 

What's not pretty good, unfortunately, is that much of Bellinger's and Suzuki's 2025 success could rely on the addition of a power bat in the middle of the lineup to protect them both. I'd never tell you to hold your breath, but when it comes to Jed Hoyer's and Carter Hawkins's complacency, that rings especially true.

Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki have certified weapons in the Cubs' arsenal, but their team won't hit its target unless deployed correctly.

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