Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki progressing smoothly, hitting home runs in batting practice

Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki has been sidelined with a strained left oblique since spring training games began. File photo. (John Antonoff / for the Sun-Times)

MESA, Ariz. — Right fielder Seiya Suzuki’s first home run in a batting-practice session Saturday was a good sign. The second was a no-doubter, towering over the left-field fence of a practice field at the Cubs’ spring-training complex.

‘‘It’s nice and loud out there,’’ manager David Ross said. ‘‘Coming off the bat well, [on] home runs, I need to close my eyes.’’