Ichiro Suzuki (Photo by Rdikeman/en.wikipedia.com)
By Staff
The Associated Press Staff
TOKYO (AP) — Japan reacted to the news that Ichiro Suzuki has been traded to the New York Yankees with surprise and anticipation that the move might lead to a World Series ring.
The Yankees acquired the star outfielder from Seattle in a trade for two young pitchers, bringing a close to Suzuki’s 11-year career with the Mariners.
Suzuki is the most recognizable athlete in Japan, where he is revered for his stoicism, perseverance, and attention to detail.
All the major Japanese newspapers splashed the move on the front pages of their Tuesday editions, with photos of Suzuki in his Yankees uniform. It was the top item on the news for public broadcaster NHK.
The 38-year-old Suzuki went from the last-place team in the AL West to the first-place team in the AL East.
“He’s the top Japanese athlete in the world, both in terms of fame and skill,” said Takuya Matsuo, a 26-year-old from Yokohama. “The Yankees have a strong image, so this increases the chances he’ll win a World Series. He is getting older, so he probably wanted to see if he could experience being a champion. It’ll be fun to watch a fellow Japanese give it his best.”
After a stellar career in Japan, he was the AL MVP and rookie of the year in 2001, as the Mariners reached the AL championship series before losing to the Yankees.
Seattle has not been back to the playoffs since.
“Now that the Yankees have him, they’ll probably get to the World Series,” said 22-year-old security guard Shohei Abe.
Japanese evening TV shows dissected his at-bats in his first game Monday, when he got a hit in his first outing against his old team and then stole second base, his 16th of the season. Suzuki went 1 for 4 in his Yankees debut and caught the final out in New York’s 4-1 victory over Seattle on Monday at Safeco Field.
His father Nobuyuki Suzuki said it felt the same as when his son joined the pros at age 18.
“More than being happy, my feeling is just go for it,” he told Japanese TV networks.
“Whatever team you’re on, baseball is the same.”
Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh said the move took him by surprise.
“However, this is something he wanted and I look forward to seeing him play for the Yankees,” Oh said.
Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player in the major leagues, said he thinks the move will be good for Suzuki.
“There are a lot of great players on the Yankees and he should fit right in,” Murakami said. “The Mariners had a lot of young players and are not contenders, so it wasn’t easy for Ichiro there.” (end)
Associated Press Writer Malcolm Foster contributed to this report.