Inside the recruiting pitch to Seiya Suzuki: Virtual reality, Yu Darvishs influence and a vision for The Next Great Cubs Team – The Athletic

Seiya Suzukis representatives wanted him to meet Cubs officials in a warmer, more casual environment than a corporate boardroom inside the Wasserman agencys Los Angeles headquarters. Bar Hayama, a nearby Japanese restaurant that is popular within baseballs international community, is closed on Mondays. But it is a family business, owned and operated by the parents of Dai Sugiura, Wassermans director of Japanese operations and player relations. They made an exception for a night that could ultimately change the trajectory of a big-market franchise and help introduce Major League Baseballs next global star.

The groups pre-ordered from the Hamaya menu, and it is customary for the kitchen staff to over-prepare when special guests visit the restaurant, so it almost looked more like a buffet-style dinner that included sushi, rice bowls, edamame and karaage, a comfort food also known as Japanese fried chicken. The intimate setting reflected Suzukis priorities as a free agent, finding a place where he could grow on the job and feel comfortable with his wife, Airi Hatakeyama, a former Olympic rhythmic gymnast and a current TV personality in Japan. Joel Wolfe, the longtime agent who helps run Wassermans baseball division, recognized that Suzuki, 27, wasnt necessarily focused on signing with the team that offered the most money or the best chance to win the World Series this year. Suzukis advisors at the March 14 meeting also included Sugiura, Yoshi Sawai, Suzukis manager in Japan, and Toy Matsushita, Suzukis interpreter.

The Cubs waited for this moment throughout MLBs 99-day lockout, envisioning Suzuki as an ideal hitter to anchor their lineup.

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Inside the recruiting pitch to Seiya Suzuki: Virtual reality, Yu Darvishs influence and a vision for The Next Great Cubs Team - The Athletic