Suzuki Ichiro has been named a candidate for the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. He is likely to win the title.
The Major League Hall of Fame announced 14 new and existing candidates who could be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025 on the 19th (Korea Standard Time).
The new candidates included Ichiro, pitchers C.C. Sabathia, Felix Hernandez, Fernando Rodney, catchers Russell Martin, Brian McCann, infielders Dustin Pedroia, Henry Ramirez, Ian Kinsler, Troy Tulowitzki, Ben Zobrist, outfielders Carlos Gonzalez, Curtis Granderson and Adam Jones.
Ichiro is certain to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Japanese batter Ichiro joined the Seattle Mariners in 2001 after playing in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and took his first steps in the big league. During his debut season, he showed a batting average of 0.350 (242 hits in 692 at-bats), eight homers, 69 RBIs, 127 runs and 56 steals, and an OPS (On base plus slugging) of 0.838 to win the Rookie of the Year award and the Most Valuable Player award at the same time.
Since then, Ichiro has played for the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins, and returned to his hometown of Seattle in 2018. He has decided to retire after 2019. During his 19 seasons in the big league, he played in 2,653 games with a batting average of 0.311, 3089 hits, 117 homers, 780 RBIs, 1,420 runs scored, 509 steals, and 0.757 OPS.
From 2001 to 2010, he produced more than 200 hits in a season for 10 consecutive years, surpassing the 3,000-hitters in total. He was honored as a two-time batting champion of the American League and a 10-time All-Star selection.
MLB.COM, the official website of the Major League Baseball, said on the 19th, “Before Ichiro made his big league debut in 2001, there were questions about whether the first Japanese fielder could succeed here. However, it didn’t take long for Ichiro to say yes firmly.”
MLB.COM said, “Ichiro had the best debut season in the history of the league, putting to rest all doubts. He recorded the most 242 hits as a rookie and recorded the highest batting average of 0.350. After Fred Lynn, he became the only player to win both the Rookie of the Year and the MVP,” adding, “Three years later (2004), Ichiro hit 262 hits, the record for the most hits in a single season, and made history in the big leagues once again.”
“Ichiro, who was a bat magician, had 200 hits every year during his first 10 seasons. He was named an All-Star and Gold Glove winner every season,” the Korean media said. “Ichiro produced his 3,000th hit in the Major League in 2016. His combined performances in 토토사이트 league and the U.S. topped 4,000 hits. He also played 9,934 at-bats in the Major League, which ranks him seventh in history.”
Ichiro is aiming to join the Hall of Fame “all-in-one.”
Existing candidates to vote again are Billy Wagner, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Andrew Jones, Carlos Beltran, Chase Utley, Omar Biskel, Jimmy Rollins, Bobby Abreu, Andy Petit, Mark Buehler, Francisco Rodriguez, Tory Hunter and David Wright.
Among them, finisher Wagner, who unfortunately failed to win 73.8% (284 votes) in the Hall of Fame vote last year, is considered to be highly likely to enter the Hall of Fame this year.
Membership of the Hall of Fame is possible only when more than 75 percent of the votes cast by reporters with more than 10 years of experience in the American Baseball Journalists Association (BBWAA). Voting is valid until the mail-in ballot postmarked on Dec. 31. The results will be announced on Jan. 21 next year local time.