After a pioneering career, Ichiro Suzuki is finally hanging up his spikes.

The surefire Hall of Fame outfielder informed his team, the Seattle Mariners, that his playing days have ended after the first two games of the season in his native Japan.

Ichiro played two games in front of adoring fans at the Tokyo Dome in the MLB Opening Series against the Oakland A’s this week. He went 0-6 with two walks.

Mariners manager Scott Servais substituted him in the eighth inning of Thursday’s game to a rousing ovation.

Ichiro, who is now 45 years old, had a distinguished career which was split between the Nippon Professional League in Japan and MLB in the United States.

He began playing for the Orix BlueWave in Japan in 1992 at only 18 years old. He played until 2000 in the NPL, dominating the league with a .353 batting average and seven Gold Glove awards.

Suzuki made the switch to MLB in 2001 with the Seattle Mariners and became one of the best players in the league, and certainly the best Japanese player in the history of MLB.

He finishes his career as a 10-time All-Star, a 10-time Gold Glove award winner, and also with one MVP and Rookie of the Year trophy.

He also holds the record for the number of hits in a single season, with 262 in 2004.

He finishes with a .311 career MLB batting average, 3,089 hits, and 509 stolen bases.

The post Ichiro to Retire from Major League Baseball appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki is steeping off the baseball field and entering the team’s front office. Mariners announced on Thursday that the 44-year-old Suzuki will serve as a special assistant to the chairman for the rest of the 2018 season.

“We want to make sure we capture all of the value that Ichiro brings to this team off the field,” – said Mariners’ general manager Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. “This new role is a way to accomplish that. While it will evolve over time, the key is that Ichiro’s presence in our clubhouse and with our players and staff improves our opportunity to win games. That is our No. 1 priority and Ichiro’s No. 1 priority.“

With this move, Ichiro Suzuki won’t be able to join an active roster of any MLB team for the rest of the season. But that doesn’t mean he will retire according to player’s agent John Boggs.

“Seattle is where he wants to be and where he’s most comfortable,” – Boggs told ESPN. “He’s very appreciative of them bringing him back. This was the most creative way to keep him within the organization and still give him an opportunity to play if that’s what happens in 2019. At this point, he does not intend to retire. Obviously, he will not be playing in 2018. But 2019 has yet to evolve.”

After starting his professional baseball career in his native Japan, Ichiro Suzuki joined Seattle Mariners and immediately made an impact in MLB winning American League MVP in his rookie season. He went on to play 11 years for the Mariners and earn 10 straight All-Star appearances (2001-2010). In 2012 he was traded to New York Yankees where he spent two years before joining Miami Marlins. Marlins decided not to take the team option on his contract for 2018 and Suzuki ended up agreeing to a one-year deal with the Mariners.

The post Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki to Take the Front Office Role with the Team for the Rest of 2018 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

One of the best hitters (if not the best) of the modern baseball era, Japanese outfielder Ichiro Suzuki returns to the place where his MLB career started. Seattle Mariners announced on Wednesday that they have signed the 44-year-old Ichiro to a one-year, $750,000 deal. According to the reports, he could earn close to $2 million more in performance-based bonuses.

I-CHI-RO! I-CHI-RO! I-CHI-RO!

The Mariners legend is coming home. #TrueToTheBlue pic.twitter.com/b4eiLYnLq9

— Mariners (@Mariners) March 7, 2018

“The addition of Ichiro gives our team another versatile and athletic outfielder,” – said Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto. “His incredible work ethic, preparation, and focus will enhance our environment in many ways. He’s truly one of the great players in the history of the game and his unquestionable presence is a valuable addition, both on the field and in the clubhouse. We’re very glad to bring him back home.“

Starting his baseball career in Japan in 1992, Ichiro Suzuki spent nine seasons with Orix BlueWave and managed 1,278 hits with a .353 career batting average, and won seven Golden Glove Awards during that time. In 2001 he came to MLB, signing with Seattle Mariners and immediately winning 2001 AL Rookie of the Year and MVP award. He spent 11 years with the Mariners, before playing being traded to the New York Yankees in 2012. He spent last three years with Miami Marlins, who recently declined his option for 2018.

During his time in MLB, Ichiro had 10 consecutive All-Star appearances (2001-2010) and won the Gold Glove Award in each year in that period. He currently holds MLB records for most hits in a single season with 262, most consecutive 200-hit seasons with 10 and most hits by a foreign-born player. His current MLB career stats include .312 batting average, 3,080 hits, and 117 home runs.

“I want to be able to help the Seattle Mariners,” – said Ichiro on Wednesday at a news conference. “I want to give it everything I’ve gained, everything I’ve done in my career, I want to give it all right here in Seattle.“

The post Ichiro Suzuki Returns to Seattle Mariners appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a pioneering career, Ichiro Suzuki is finally hanging up his spikes.

The surefire Hall of Fame outfielder informed his team, the Seattle Mariners, that his playing days have ended after the first two games of the season in his native Japan.

Ichiro played two games in front of adoring fans at the Tokyo Dome in the MLB Opening Series against the Oakland A’s this week. He went 0-6 with two walks.

Mariners manager Scott Servais substituted him in the eighth inning of Thursday’s game to a rousing ovation.

Ichiro, who is now 45 years old, had a distinguished career which was split between the Nippon Professional League in Japan and MLB in the United States.

He began playing for the Orix BlueWave in Japan in 1992 at only 18 years old. He played until 2000 in the NPL, dominating the league with a .353 batting average and seven Gold Glove awards.

Suzuki made the switch to MLB in 2001 with the Seattle Mariners and became one of the best players in the league, and certainly the best Japanese player in the history of MLB.

He finishes his career as a 10-time All-Star, a 10-time Gold Glove award winner, and also with one MVP and Rookie of the Year trophy.

He also holds the record for the number of hits in a single season, with 262 in 2004.

He finishes with a .311 career MLB batting average, 3,089 hits, and 509 stolen bases.

The post Ichiro to Retire from Major League Baseball appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki is steeping off the baseball field and entering the team’s front office. Mariners announced on Thursday that the 44-year-old Suzuki will serve as a special assistant to the chairman for the rest of the 2018 season.

“We want to make sure we capture all of the value that Ichiro brings to this team off the field,” – said Mariners’ general manager Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. “This new role is a way to accomplish that. While it will evolve over time, the key is that Ichiro’s presence in our clubhouse and with our players and staff improves our opportunity to win games. That is our No. 1 priority and Ichiro’s No. 1 priority.“

With this move, Ichiro Suzuki won’t be able to join an active roster of any MLB team for the rest of the season. But that doesn’t mean he will retire according to player’s agent John Boggs.

“Seattle is where he wants to be and where he’s most comfortable,” – Boggs told ESPN. “He’s very appreciative of them bringing him back. This was the most creative way to keep him within the organization and still give him an opportunity to play if that’s what happens in 2019. At this point, he does not intend to retire. Obviously, he will not be playing in 2018. But 2019 has yet to evolve.”

After starting his professional baseball career in his native Japan, Ichiro Suzuki joined Seattle Mariners and immediately made an impact in MLB winning American League MVP in his rookie season. He went on to play 11 years for the Mariners and earn 10 straight All-Star appearances (2001-2010). In 2012 he was traded to New York Yankees where he spent two years before joining Miami Marlins. Marlins decided not to take the team option on his contract for 2018 and Suzuki ended up agreeing to a one-year deal with the Mariners.

The post Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki to Take the Front Office Role with the Team for the Rest of 2018 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

One of the best hitters (if not the best) of the modern baseball era, Japanese outfielder Ichiro Suzuki returns to the place where his MLB career started. Seattle Mariners announced on Wednesday that they have signed the 44-year-old Ichiro to a one-year, $750,000 deal. According to the reports, he could earn close to $2 million more in performance-based bonuses.

I-CHI-RO! I-CHI-RO! I-CHI-RO!

The Mariners legend is coming home. #TrueToTheBlue pic.twitter.com/b4eiLYnLq9

— Mariners (@Mariners) March 7, 2018

“The addition of Ichiro gives our team another versatile and athletic outfielder,” – said Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto. “His incredible work ethic, preparation, and focus will enhance our environment in many ways. He’s truly one of the great players in the history of the game and his unquestionable presence is a valuable addition, both on the field and in the clubhouse. We’re very glad to bring him back home.“

Starting his baseball career in Japan in 1992, Ichiro Suzuki spent nine seasons with Orix BlueWave and managed 1,278 hits with a .353 career batting average, and won seven Golden Glove Awards during that time. In 2001 he came to MLB, signing with Seattle Mariners and immediately winning 2001 AL Rookie of the Year and MVP award. He spent 11 years with the Mariners, before playing being traded to the New York Yankees in 2012. He spent last three years with Miami Marlins, who recently declined his option for 2018.

During his time in MLB, Ichiro had 10 consecutive All-Star appearances (2001-2010) and won the Gold Glove Award in each year in that period. He currently holds MLB records for most hits in a single season with 262, most consecutive 200-hit seasons with 10 and most hits by a foreign-born player. His current MLB career stats include .312 batting average, 3,080 hits, and 117 home runs.

“I want to be able to help the Seattle Mariners,” – said Ichiro on Wednesday at a news conference. “I want to give it everything I’ve gained, everything I’ve done in my career, I want to give it all right here in Seattle.“

The post Ichiro Suzuki Returns to Seattle Mariners appeared first on SportzBonanza.