Ichiro Suzuki

About Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Suzuki , often referred to mononymously as Ichiro (born October 22, 1973), is a Japanese professional baseball right fielder for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). Originally a player in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Ichiro moved to the United States in 2001 to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, with whom he spent 11 seasons, and later the New York Yankees. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including MLB's single-season record for hits with 262. 

Orix Blue Wave:

Before playing in the MLB, Ichiro played nine years for the Orix Blue Wave in Japan's Pacific League. Posted by Orix after the 2000 season, Ichiro became Seattle's right fielder. The first Japanese-born position player to be signed to the major leagues,Ichiro led the American League (AL) in batting average and stolen bases en route to being named AL Rookie of the Year and AL Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Ichiro Suzuki Achievements

Awards:

Ichiro is the first MLB player to enter the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame (The Golden Players Club). He is a ten-time All-Star and won the 2007 All-Star Game MVP Award for a three-hit performance that included the event's first-ever inside-the-park home run. Ichiro won a Gold Glove Award in each of his first ten years in the major leagues, and has had seven hitting streaks of 20 or more games, with a high of 27. Ichiro also leads all active players in stolen bases, with 497.

American League records:

Most at-bats by rookie, season: 692 (157 games in 2001)

Most at-bats by lefthander, season: 704 (161 games in 2004)

Most seasons leading the league in at-bats: 8 (2001, 2004—2008, 2010—2011)

Most consecutive seasons leading the league in at-bats: 5 (2004—2008)

Most hits, season: 262 (2004)

Most hits by rookie, season: 242 (2001)

Most hits by lefthander, season: 262 (2004)

Most consecutive seasons leading the league in hits: 5 (2006—2010)

Most games with one or more hits, season: 135 (2001)

• tied with Wade Boggs (Boston Red Sox, 1985) and Derek Jeter (New York Yankees, 1999)
  

Most seasons with 200 or more hits: 10 (2001—2010)

Most consecutive seasons with 200 or more hits: 10 (2001—2010)

Most hits, two consecutive seasons: 474 (212 in 2003, 262 in 2004)

• tied with Ty Cobb (Detroit Tigers, 248 in 1911, 226 in 1912)
  

Most games with five or more hits, season: 4 (July 29 (13 inn.), August 3, September 4, September 21, 2004)

• tied with Ty Cobb (Detroit Tigers, May 7, July 7, July 12, July 17, 1922)
  

Most singles, season: 225 (2004)

Most singles by rookie, season: 192 (2001)

Most singles by lefthander, season: 225 (2004)

Most seasons leading the league in singles: 10 (2001—2010)

Most consecutive seasons leading the league in singles: 10 (2001—2010)

Fewest grounding into double plays by rookie, season [min. 150 games]: 3 (2001)

Most seasons leading the league in fewest grounding into double plays [min. 150 games]: 4 (2001, 2003, 2005—2006)

Most consecutive stolen bases with no caught stealing, career: 45 (April 29, 2006—May 19, 2007)

Only inside-the-park home run in MLB All-Star Game history: July 10, 2007, 1 on, off Chris Young, 5th inning, AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA