Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Suzuki (鈴木一朗) (born October 22, 1973) is the first Japanese-born position player to play in Major League Baseball. In 1992, at the age of 18, he made his debut in the outfield with the Orix Blue Wave in Japan's Pacific League. In 1994, Ichiro had a remarkable year, setting a Japanese single-season record with 210 hits and threatening to become the first player in Japan to bat .400. It was the first of a record seven consecutive seasons in which he led the league in batting average. He was a three-time Most Valuable Player in the Pacific League.

After the 2000 season, in which Ichiro posted his best batting average yet (.387), the Seattle Mariners purchased the rights to his contract. He had a remarkable season in 2001, with 242 hits (the most by any player since 1930) and a league-leading .350 batting average, winning the American League Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards. Ichiro (who prefers to be referred to by his given name, even in newspaper accounts and on the back of his uniform) became only the second player in MLB history to win MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season; the first was Fred Lynn in the American League in 1975.

Ichiro is a left handed batter and as of the 2004 season plays right field for the Mariners.