Since the beginning of August in 2023, could you name the Top 10 MLB leaders in OPS?

The big names are there – Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, Bobby Witt Jr., Kyle Tucker –  but there is one name that might surprise some outside of Chicago.

That’s right, Seiya Suzuki is in the Top 10.

Over a two-month stretch in June and July during 2023, Suzuki was struggling. In 46 games, he hit only 2 home runs while posting a .578 OPS.

The Cubs sat Suzuki for a couple of games to reset and work on some things in the beginning of August after the acquisition of Jeimer Candelario at the trade deadline.

[Nico Hoerner: Broadcasting veteran?]

Since then, he’s been one of the best hitters in baseball.

“He’s very underrated,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said on Sunday’s broadcast. “I don’t think he’s had his best season yet. I think it’s still in there for him. He’s still learning the pitchers over here. I think he’s just going to continue to get better and better.”

Suzuki was arguably the Cubs’ best hitter in 2024 – leading the team in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage – while launching a career-high 21 home runs.

The Cubs have since added Tucker to the lineup after an offseason trade and are hoping they will form a dynamic duo in the heart of the order.

For the Cubs to get to where they want to go, Tucker will help but they could certainly use an elite version of Suzuki as well.