Coming into 2026, the Cubs’ right field was a strength of the team. Seiya Suzuki was set to build on the success he has had so far in his career. Also, Matt Shaw was set to see some time as a utility player. The combination of those two left the team feeling confident, with solid depth across the rest of the organization. However, that has quickly taken a turn for the worse due to injuries. Now, the team is desperate to find a solution as it looks to build on its recent hot streak.
Who Can Fill the Gap in the Cubs Right Field
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72215196/1483923522.0.jpg)
Seiya Suzuki
Suzuki came into 2026 as the top option for the Cubs right field. It was a solid start, as he had seen much-improved defense. That area was one of the biggest concerns after last season, and the fact that he fixed it was a welcome sight. Like many of the other Cubs bats, he has not been hot for the entire year. As of June 30th, Suzuki is hitting .268 with 12 home runs and 39 RBI. While his season has been up and down, he has begun to become more consistent and looks like one of the most valuable players currently.
SEIYA SUZUKI WALKS IT OFF FOR THE @CUBS! pic.twitter.com/mWZD8Brrne
— MLB (@MLB) June 30, 2026
Unfortunately, there has been a lot of talk around him this season. His name has frequently come up in Cubs trade rumors, as he is in the last year of his deal and the team has major pitching needs. Besides that, he has struggled with injuries. Recently, he has been mostly playing DH because the team did not feel he would be healthy enough to play defense but still wanted to get his bat in the lineup. This has severely limited the team and was the first step in growing concerns about the Cubs’ right field.
Matt Shaw
Due to the crowding of the infield, Matt Shaw has been turned into one of the team’s top utility options. He primarily served as a backup to the infielders, but when he returned from his first stint on the injured list, he started to serve as the main guy in the Cubs’ right field. He was playing strongly when Suzuki was limited to DH, but then Shaw went on the injured list again. He became one of the prime examples of the Cubs‘ injury issues, and Chicago is now in a desperate place to improve their depth in right field.
The Possible Replacements
Kevin Alcántara
One of the players that fans wish to see the most is Kevin Alcántara, who has been one of the most talked-about names for the Cubs this season. For many years, he was one of the team’s top prospects, and Chicago faced a tough dilemma with him. They will soon be forced to decide if he will be a starter of the future or if he will become a trade piece. He previously came up due to injuries but struggled to make an impact in his limited playing time. Now, the Cubs will need to decide whether he gets much playing time or they want to go the veteran route.
Michael Conforto
If they wanted to go the veteran route but do not feel like Suzuki is ready to return, then a possible option is Michael Conforto. He has served as one of the main bench bats this season and has had mixed results. At times, he has shown up in the clutch, but when he was seeing consistent playing time, it was a different story. Despite this, he may be the most likely option to fill the gap in the Cubs’ right field. His skill is solid, and it is a much safer route than Alcántara. He saw his first start after the Shaw injury on June 29th and will likely get a solid amount of appearances.
michael conforto 🤝 seiya suzuki. pic.twitter.com/11evHKTw6E
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 30, 2026
Cubs Right Field
Regarding the Cubs’ right-field situation, they will likely consider all possibilities. It’s possible to see Suzuki make some starts, but he likely won’t be the everyday guy if he does. With that in mind, they will likely go into a platoon role, with both guys getting a chance to make an impact. Conforto brings a veteran presence and has shown some solid moments during the season. However, Alcántara has greater upside, and the Cubs may want to see whether he can become a long-term addition to the lineup. Regardless of who they start with, it will be important to see if Chicago can keep their hot streak going.
Main Photo Credits: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
