Ichiro Suzuki went into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer.
This week, he's going to be stepping back into his Seattle Mariners uniform.
The Mariners are in an odd and relatively new spot. The expanded MLB playoffs mean that the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in each league get byes into the division series.
That's great in the sense that they don't have to win any Wild Card games to advance. But it creates a weird layoff that doesn't normally exist on the baseball calendar.
So the Mariners are scrimmaging this week, and Ichiro is expected to play.
"Sounds like Ichiro Suzuki might play some right field in today’s scrimmage here at T-Mobile Park ahead of the ALDS, but he’s not expected to bat," wrote MLB.com's Daniel Kramer on X.
The 51-year old Ichiro is still on the Mariners' payroll, and he serves as a mentor to many of the Seattle players.
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He still works out like a guy who is in the middle of his playing career. He's often out on the field before games in full uniform.
There isn't anyone else like Ichiro.
It's cool to hear that he'll be stepping back onto the diamond in any capacity. And if anyone has a camera, hopefully they start recording when the ball is hit to Suzuki in the outfield.
He always had one of the best arms on the planet and was lightning quick, too. Even at 51, Ichiro is probably an outfielder you don't want to run on.
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