Cubs Star Seiya Suzuki Joins an Elite Group of Japanese Sluggers with His 100th Home Run.

The Chicago Cubs crushed the San Diego Padres 23-3 on Thursday. It was a historic night for the franchise and an especially big one for Seiya Suzuki. He launched a three-run homer in the first inning that not only set the tone for the rout but also put him in a very exclusive club.

Suzuki became just the fourth Japanese-born player in MLB history to hit 100 career home runs. He joins Hideki Matsui, Shohei Ohtani, and Ichiro Suzuki. That’s it. That’s the list. Pretty good company for a guy who came over from Japan’s Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 2022.

A Five-Year Run in Chicago

Suzuki has been with the Cubs for five seasons now. He signed a five-year, $85 million extension back in 2022 and is playing out the final year of that deal. Chicago did not offer him another extension before this season started, so he’s headed for unrestricted free agency this winter unless something changes before the August 3 trade deadline.

His numbers this season are solid: a .274 batting average with 73 hits, 13 homers, and 42 RBIs through 87 games. But the real story might be how he’s performed in big moments lately. Suzuki hit a walk-off RBI to win the first game of this series against San Diego on Monday. Then he followed it up with the historic homer to start Thursday’s blowout. The guy shows up.

What Happens Next Is the Real Question

The Cubs sit at 49-38, second in the NL Central and 5.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers with the All-Star break coming up. That puts them in an interesting spot. Are they buyers or sellers at the deadline? Suzuki’s future could hinge on that answer. If the front office thinks they can make a run, maybe they keep him. If not, trading him now could bring back some serious prospects rather than letting him walk for nothing.

Chicago handed the Padres their worst loss in franchise history with Thursday’s win, completing a three-game sweep. Next up for the Cubs is a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field over the holiday weekend. Suzuki will likely be in the middle of it, both at the plate and in trade rumors.

For now, the 100-homer milestone is a nice reminder of what he’s already done. The question is whether he’ll get to add to that total in a Cubs uniform or somewhere else.