As the Wrigley Field stands slowly filled up with fans bundled in layers of Cubbie blue, Seiya Suzuki for the first time watched the ballpark come alive.
He’d visited Wrigley three weeks earlier, on a quick trip to Chicago before he signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the Cubs. He’d seen his name up in the Cubs’ towering video boards.
Opening Day, even in 44-degree weather, was something else entirely.
The Cubs’ 5-4 win Thursday against the Brewers marked Suzuki’s Major League Baseball debut. He went 1-for-2 at the plate with a pair of walks.