MESA, Ariz. — In many ways, Friday represented a fresh start for the Cubs — especially Seiya Suzuki.

Last year, the Cubs outfielder was relegated to designated hitting duties for the final stretch of the season, a role he thrived in. But it wasn’t smooth sailing.

[WATCH: Seiya Suzuki’s media session from spring training]

This offseason, with the team acquiring Kyle Tucker and announcing that Suzuki would primarily DH again, the communication about the role started in the winter.

“Yeah, I can’t share too much of what the conversation was between Counsell and I, but I feel like last year we could have had better communication,” Suzuki said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “So going into this year, I feel like we’re improving upon that and then communicate better during the season.”

What made Suzuki think he could have better conversations with his manager? Well, not really knowing him and how he thinks through decisions made that difficult.

“It was my first experience coming here where the manager changed,” Suzuki said. “So trying to learn how he thinks. And obviously the goal is to win the championship, so what his thoughts are about, considering baseball and other things.

“So just getting a deeper understanding through him.”

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Midseason last year, the Cubs dropped Suzuki’s interpreter Toy Matsushita, who had been with the outfielder since he arrived with the Cubs in 2022. Stanberry, Shota Imanaga’s interpreter, filled in for the remainder of the year.

“No, I don’t think so,” Suzuki said when asked if that led to the struggles in communication with Counsell.

At the Winter Meetings in December in Dallas, Suzuki’s agent Joel Wolfe made it no secret that the outfielder wasn’t thrilled to be a primary DH — despite his success in that role. Over his final 37 games, Suzuki made 36 starts at DH and hit .326/.433/.500 (.933 OPS) with 5 home runs and 18 RBI.

“Seiya was a great defender in Japan, so it’s not a compliment to him being a DH,” Wolfe said at the time. “I think that if he was being posted in Japan, and teams were presenting to him their opportunities, and they said, ‘You could come here and be our full-time DH,’ I don’t think he would have signed with that team.”

Suzuki isn’t harboring any resentment or frustration. Instead, he’s viewing this spring as a blank slate — both with his manager and with the ability to prove he can still play in the outfield.

“My job is to give it my all to whatever my job calls for,” Suzuki said. “So if it is to DH, if it is to play the field, give it my best, and that’s my job.”