Former Seattle Mariners outfielder, future Hall of Famer Ichiro is a pitcher now
Former Seattle Mariners outfielder and future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki is still showing the competitive fire that he has for baseball as recently, there was video that surfaced of him playing in an exhibition game against a Japanese high school girls team. But he wasn’t playing his traditional right field. He was pitching.
Ichiro, who recorded nearly 4,400 hits between Japan and MLB, did hit as well but, reportedly, he went 0-for-3 but he showed that he has some prowess on the mound.
Future Baseball Hall of Famer Ichiro struck out 17 batters in Japan recently.
Ichiro made one pitching appearance in his MLB career and pitched in high school but he struck out 17 batters and made 147 pitches recently, which is unheard of in today’s age of Major League Baseball. He topped out at 84 MPH so, perhaps, he could be a right-handed version of his former teammate, Jamie Moyer, but throw faster than Moyer.
When he made his lone MLB pitching appearance back in 2015, after the game, Ichiro spoke with the media (through his interpreter Allen Turner) about the outing.
“I used to pitch in high school,” Ichiro said. “I did pitch in an All-Star Game in Japan. But to be on the mound at a Major League Baseball game, you can say one of my dreams came true today. But I’ll never ask to do that again.”
Ichiro last played in the major leagues in 2019 as he wrapped up his career with his first MLB team, the Seattle Mariners, who opened their season in his native Japan. He played the two games over there with the Mariners before deciding to retire.
Next. The Mariners aren't done upgrading their rotation. dark
The 2001 American League MVP, Rookie of the Year, and 10-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner was just inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame with the ceremony and celebrations coming in 2022 but when the 2025 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot is released, Ichiro will almost certainly be inducted on the first ballot.