CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are heading to the NLDS, but for outfielder Seiya Suzuki, the most emotional moment of the postseason didn’t come from his game-winning home run — it came from a handwritten note.
Moments after the Cubs’ thrilling Wild Card victory over the Cincinnati Reds, Suzuki’s wife, Airi Suzuki, shared a touching photo on social media: a small piece of paper held by their 5-year-old son, with colorful crayon letters reading, “I’ll be a brave Cubs warrior like you, Dad.”
The image, posted to X (formerly Twitter), quickly went viral across Cubs Nation. The message, written in both English and Japanese, was followed by two doodles — a big bear and a little bear wearing the iconic blue “C” cap.
“When Seiya saw the note, he just froze,” Airi told reporters after the game. “He smiled, then hugged our son and whispered something only the two of them could understand. It was one of those moments you never forget.”
Suzuki’s performance in the Wild Card Series was pivotal. His two-run homer in the sixth inning of Game 3 sealed the Cubs’ advancement, earning him the postgame MVP honors. But while the 31-year-old Japanese slugger has built a reputation for his focus and discipline, teammates said the quiet emotion after the game revealed another side of him.
“You could see it in his eyes,” said Cubs manager Craig Counsell. “Seiya’s a competitor, but he’s also a family man. His son’s message hit him right in the heart. That’s what this team is about — playing for something bigger than yourself.”
Suzuki joined the Cubs in 2022 on a five-year, $85 million contract, becoming one of Japan’s biggest exports to MLB in recent years. After a slow start in his first season, he has since emerged as one of the team’s most consistent hitters, finishing 2025 with a .295 batting average, 24 home runs, and 81 RBIs.
But it’s not just his numbers that have made him a fan favorite — it’s his humility and dedication. Suzuki is often spotted greeting fans near the dugout in halting English, and during road trips, he’s known to FaceTime his family before every night game.
“He always says his son gives him strength,” said teammate Nico Hoerner. “That note just put everything into perspective for him — for all of us, really.”
Within hours, the post from Airi Suzuki had racked up more than 180,000 likes and 25,000 shares, with fans calling it “the most Cubs moment of the year.” Some even brought handmade signs to Wrigley Field the next morning reading, “Be Brave Like Dad!” and “Mini Suzuki Believes!”
The Cubs are now set to face the Milwaukee Brewers in a best-of-five NLDS beginning Saturday at American Family Field. The two teams battled fiercely for the NL Central title all season, and the upcoming series is expected to draw massive attention from fans across the Midwest and Japan alike.
When asked about the message again during Friday’s media session, Suzuki smiled modestly.
“It reminded me why I play this game,” he said. “Not just for myself, but for my family — and for everyone who believes in us. I’ll carry that message with me into the next round.”
As Chicago braces for another high-stakes postseason run, Suzuki’s story has become a symbol of the Cubs’ resilience — and a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful motivation doesn’t come from the crowd, but from a child’s simple promise.
And somewhere in the stands next week, a little boy wearing a blue Cubs cap will be watching his hero step up to the plate — whispering the same words that moved a city:
“Be brave, Dad. Go Cubs.”
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