Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki will no longer play for the Mariners, and will be the Special Assistant to the Chairman, starting Wednesday, the team said.
“We want to make sure we capture all of the value that Ichiro brings to this team off the field,” Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto said in a statement. “This new role is a way to accomplish that. While it will evolve over time, the key is that Ichiro’s presence in our clubhouse and with our players and staff improves our opportunity to win games. That is our number-one priority and Ichiro’s number-one priority.”
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Ichiro also will assist with outfield play, baserunning and hitting, providing mentorship to both players and staff, team officials said.
“We believe that Ichiro’s signing and his assimilation into our team has helped us this season and we want to make sure we continue that,” Dipoto said.
Ichiro, 44, ranks 21st all-time in MLB history with 3,089 career hits, including 2,542 as a Mariner.
Ichiro began his Major League career with the Mariners in 2001. He was named Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year that year and also earned a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award.
He set the single-season Major League record with 262 hits in 2004. From 2001 to 2010, Ichiro won 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards and made 10 straight trips to the All-Star Game.
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