Full Name : Ichiro Suzuki
Born : October 22, 1973
Hometown : Kasugai, Japan
Height : 5' 9
Weight : 170 lbs
Bats : Left
Throws : Right
Major League Baseball debut : April 2, 2001 for the Seattle Mariners
Family : wife, Yumiko
Primary Position : Center Field
Only a handful of players come from other countries and make a name for themselves in the major leagues. Even less are able to be considered one of the best five-tool athletes in the game. Despite these odds, Ichiro Suzuki has came and played Major League Baseball at a level notably above his peers, earning him much respect across the organization. Born on October 22, 1973, in Kasugai, Japan, Ichiro's presence in the dugout has set an example for other foreign players to follow through his leadership and exceptional work ethic.
Growing up as a child, Ichiro was pressured by his father to become a professional baseball player, and he now credits his father for a majority of his success. While in high school, Ichiro's father went as far as to tell his coach to limit the amount of praise given to Ichiro so that he could develop the necessary mentality and grow spiritually at the same time. Though putting up a whopping .505 batting average throughout his high school career, major league scouts were skeptical of Ichiro's 5'9' frame.
Ichiro began his professional career at just 18-years-old in the Japanese leagues. Many Japanese coaches and managers critiqued his unique swing claiming that it defied the rules of baseball since power can only be obtained when a hitter keeps his weight on the back leg. Despite this theory, Ichiro played with his own style, usually leaning forward prior to completing his full swing. Nobody seemed to argue after Ichiro put up record-breaking numbers in the Pacific League, establishing a single-season record for hits (210 in 130 games) and winning seven consecutive batting titles. He also went on to win three straight Pacific-League Most Valuable Player Awards, seven Gold Glove awards, and finished with an overall .358 batting average, giving him recognition as one of the country's premiere superstars.
After the 2000 season, the Seattle Mariners acquired Ichiro for a contract worth approximately $14 million. Considering only pitchers from Japan were playing in the Major Leagues at the time, Ichiro's transition to a full-time position player marked a defining point in baseball history. Though many doubted the impact he would have at the major-league level, Ichiro set a rookie record by knocking 242 hits in his first year. His presence became known worldwide, as fans across the ocean came to see Ichiro play in the United States. He finished up the 2001 season with quite a bang, winning both the American League Most Valuable Player Award and the Rookie of the Year Award, becoming only the second player in major league history (after Fred Lynn) to accomplish this feat.
Ichiro's success did not end as a rookie. After collecting his 200th hit in the 2005 season, he became the first major league player ever to knock at least 200 hits in five consecutive seasons. He also won six straight Gold Glove awards from 2001-2006, and today many runners grow fearful of hi cannon arm in the outfield. Even more fascinating is the fact that he appeared in every all-star game from 2001-2006. There is no doubt that Ichiro's impact as a foreign-born major league athlete will go on to be considered one of the most remarkable stories in baseball history.
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