Seattle Mariners: Sayōnara Ichiro Suzuki San

Ichiro Suzuki has been a staple in MLB since his rookie season with the Seattle Mariners in 2001. On Thursday, he officially announced his retirement in his native Japan.

While the 2-game series between the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics was mostly a dud, thankfully, most will remember the series as the last for an all-time great in Ichiro Suzuki.

First reported by Kyodo News, the final game in the two-game set in Japan would be Ichiro’s final. After going 0-4, Ichiro was pulled from the game in the 8th inning to thunderous cheers from his native Japan.

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Ichiro’s impact in the game is unique. While he wasn’t the first Japanese player to transition to MLB, he is by far the best, paving the way for future athletes from his homeland. Guys like Yu Darvish, Shohei Ohtani, and Hideki Matsui to name a few.

Many believed that Ichiro would attempt to play out the season with the Mariners, but after struggling this Spring, going 2-28 and then 0-5 in the team’s first two official games, the “Wizard” has decided to hang up his cleats instead.

Upon walking off the field, Ichiro’s teammates, including a teary Yusei Kikuchi and Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., welcomed him with warm embraces.

It’s the type of send-off saved only for players who have made an impact on the game like Ichiro did.

Among his accomplishments, most people will remember Ichiro for being the single-season hits king. Ichiro broke the single-season hits record in 2004, etching his name in baseball history forever. His hits record, 262, stands up there with Joe DiMaggio‘s consecutive games with a hit streak and Cal Ripken Jr.‘s consecutive games played streak as close to impossible to break.

There will never be another player like Ichiro Suzuki. I look forward to seeing him become a unanimous member of Baseball’s Hall of Fame in the near future.

Sayōnara Ichiro Suzuki San