The next great Chicago Cub or a first-month mirage? Inside Seiya Suzuki's major league introduction

It's been a month of firsts for Seiya Suzuki. The Chicago Cubs rookie outfielder collected his first big league hit during his first big league game, on Opening Day. His first home run followed just 48 hours later. A day after that, he helped the Cubs to a win with his first multi-homer game. Then came the honors: National League Player of the Week, followed by NL Rookie of the Month for April.

But Suzuki is missing one thing he'll need during his major league career after spending nine seasons playing in Japan.

«I'm looking for a hobby,» Suzuki told ESPN last week through interpreter Toy Matsushita. «Practice is a lot shorter here. Also the time you get to the field is later. Batting practice isn't as long. I have more time.»

Teammate Chris Martin, who played in Japan for several years, understood Suzuki's amazement at the shorter work days in MLB.

«They work non-stop,» Martin said of baseball players in Japan. «They don't feel prepared unless they're working. Even after games, they're doing dry swings, working out and stuff. They just kept working.»

Martin thinks that Suzuki will need to learn to turn off the «baseball switch» to keep sharp for an entire 162-game MLB season. He suggested video games or golf as good hobbies to pick up. Golf was outfielder Ian Happ's idea as well.

«His dad is into golf,» Happ said. «Maybe golf is the thing for him.»

The reason that the Japanese star's potential off-the-field interests have become a topic of conversation in the Cubs' clubhouse is because — at least in the early weeks — he already seems to have figured out the whole baseball thing.

After signing a five-year, $85 million deal in March, Suzuki has shown he can handle one of the biggest challenges for hitters coming from