Ichiro takes assistant role with Mariners, off field at least in 2018

May 5, 2018

Seattle- Ichiro Suzuki will not play again at least in 2018, as he is moving into the front office of the Seattle Mariners, the US Major League team announced Thursday.

Suzuki "is transitioning to the role of special assistant to the chairman, effective today," said Jerry Dipoto, the team's general manager.

The club noted that the 44-year-old outfielder was removed from its 25-man roster, although a possibility of his comeback as an active player in 2019 or later cannot be ruled out.

In his new role, Suzuki will continue to be an active presence with the Major League club, according to the Mariners.

"The key is that Ichiro's presence in our clubhouse and with our players and staff improves our opportunity to win games," said Dipoto. "It is our goal that Ichiro be a member of the Seattle organization long-term."

Suzuki told reporters the same day that he decided to "gladly" accept the new role offer because he thought it was something he could do best to help a team he likes "very much."

From now on, he will assist with outfield play, baserunning and hitting and provide mentorship to both players and staff, the club said.

"We really don't want him to change anything that he's doing right now, with the exception that he will not be playing in games," Dipoto said.

"I want to be a baseball researcher and hope to see how I'm going to evolve in the future," Suzuki said.

Suzuki returned to the Mariners in March this year, after playing for the New York Yankees from the middle of the 2012 season and then for the Miami Marlins from 2015.

This season, he had played in 15 of the 29 games as of Wednesday, going nine-for-44 with .205.

But his stellar records include 4,367 career hits in the United States and Japan, outpacing the MLB record of 4,256 hits, set by Pete Rose. In the Major Leagues alone, Suzuki collected 3,089 hits, ranking 21st.

In 2001, he made his sensational MLB debut and ended the season with the American League's best player and rookie titles as the leading hitter and stolen base champion.

Suzuki established a seasonal record of 262 hits in 2004. He is one of seven players to collect at least 3,000 hits and 500 stolen bases in the Major Leagues. Jiji Press