Player Profile: Ichiro Suzuki #51 Position: Right Fielder Bats: Left Throws: Right Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 Age: 32 Birth Day: October 22nd, 1973 Birth Place: Japan Rookie Year: 2001

Awards

2001 AL Most Valuable Player Award
2001 AL Rookie of the Year Award
2001 AL Outfielder Gold Glove
2002 AL Outfielder Gold Glove
2003 AL Outfielder Gold Glove
2004 AL Outfielder Gold Glove
2004 Baseball Outstanding Achievement Award
2005 AL Outfielder Gold Glove

Nicknames

Ichi
Ichi-Woah!

Ichiro's Bio

Ichiro Suzuki was born in Kasugai, Japan in 1973. As a kid in Little League, Ichiro played up a league every year, so he was always the youngest and one of the best on the team. Ichiro later went on to High School, where he was noticed by the Orix Blue Wave and drafted by them in the 4th round. In 1992, he joined a Minor League club and was quickly promoted to Orix after only a half season in the minors.

Ichiro played with the Blue Wave until the year 2001, when he negotiated a contract with the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro went on to win the Rookie of the Year, AL MVP, AL Gold Glove, and started in the All-Star game all in his rookie year.

In 2004, Ichiro broke the single season hit record of 262.

Since his rookie year in Major League Baseball, Ichiro has been to the All-Star game every year, and also managed a Gold Glove award every year.

Why does he have his first name on his back?

In 1997, the manager at the time, Akira Ogi, changed Ichiro's name on his back from 'Suzuki' to 'Ichiro' because there were multiple Suzuki's on the team. Ichiro didn't like this at first because he got extra attention, but got used to it and carried it over to the Major Leagues.

Why was he a rookie in 2001?

Japanese players coming in from Japan to the MLB here in the United States are considered rookies. This has sparked a lot of controversy among fans and the media that think Professional Baseball in Japan should count as seasoning, however it has not been overruled.

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