On Monday, in the first inning between the Cubs and the Royals, a drama unfolded. A foul ball hit this Cubs batter in a sensitive spot. He stopped, clearly startled, and then, out of the blue, he was called out. In a flash, the tone of the game shifted, and everyone was left with a question: Did that really just happen?
The 30-year-old walked up to the plate after Tucker and faced Noah Cameron, the starter for Kansas City. He fouled a full-count pitch into himself while Clint Vondrak was behind the plate. And soon, Vondrak called an automatic third strike.
The player in the center of this controversy is Seiya Suzuki. He was hit by a full-count pitch off the top of his thigh/groin and then moved away from the plate. The home-plate umpire ruled a third strike under the pitch-clock rule, even though the player looked like he was in agony. This was the Cubs’ third strikeout of the inning.
Seiya Suzuki fouled a pitch off himself, then was called out on a pitch clock violation. pic.twitter.com/hF3Ry6e2Q2
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 22, 2025
Manager Craig Counsell didn’t let this thing pass without a fight. He went out to the field and asked the umpire why he was ruled out, as Suzuki needed a break after being hit. Counsel argued that the injuries justified the wait, but the call was not changed.
But what about this pitch-clock penalty that stunned everyone? There is a 30-second clock between hitters in MLB. When there are no runners on base, pitchers have 15 seconds to start a pitch. When there are runners on base, they get 18 seconds (down from 20 in 2024). If batters aren’t ready by the time the timer goes off, they get an automatic strike. If pitchers take too long, they get an automatic ball. And that’s exactly what happened with Suzuki.
After that questionable beginning, the Cubs fell behind early. They scored four runs in the second inning, thanks to home runs by Matt Shaw and Carson Kelly. But the Royals came back with a strong showing. Kansas City won 12–4 by scoring eight runs without giving up any. Salvador Perez hit two home runs, and Jac Caglianone and John Rave each hit one.
Chicago lost the game, and one big reason was that Pete Crow-Armstrong missed time after hurting his right knee on a slide the day before. And it was Seiya Suzuki who stepped in as CF, seamlessly.
Suzuki adapts smoothly to CF, goes 2‑for‑4 at the plate
Suzuki started in center field for the first time in his career because Pete Crow-Armstrong was out with a damaged knee. He slipped into the role without any ifs and buts even though he had never played it before in Chicago, and had only done it once before in Japan.
Credits: Japan Forward/ Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki hits a broken-bat single in the seventh inning against the Hanshin Tigers on March 15, 2025, at Tokyo Dome. (©KYODO)
He seemed at ease patrolling the grass, moving well side to side, and taking excellent angles on fly balls. Suzuki wasn’t a natural center fielder, but he didn’t make any mistakes and even made a few easy outs quickly, putting to rest any doubts.
Seiya Suzuki went 2-for-4 at the plate in his debut game playing center field. This shows that he can help the team offensively even while he’s learning a new position. His .258 batting average and .539 slugging percentage show that he hit the ball hard, even though he struck out twice.
Suzuki adjusted to his new position skillfully, showcasing his adaptability and teamwork. And this readiness to play center field makes him a vital player for the Cubs as they head into the playoffs.
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