It’s only fitting - for the first blog post here after the All Star Break - that the featured player would be Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners. The Kasugai, Japan born Ichiro was this year’s All Star Game MVP, and the only player in MLB history to ever hit an “in the park” home run in an All Star Game. The ever humble Ichiro admitted he thought of leaving the ballpark after playing in the All Star Game because he had a reservation at a restaurant, but he said he was told to stick around as he might be picked MVP.

Ichiro has been ripping it up this year with .359 batting average, 39 RBI’s and 5 home runs. The dynamic center fielder is equally talented out in the field playing defense, stealing bases to advance his team or just stepping up to the plate to lead his team to victory. Currently in his seventh season with the Mariners, Ichiro carries an impressive .333 career batting average with 398 RBI’s and 258 stolen bases. He has also won six straight American League Gold Glove Awards in his first six years in the majors.

Ichiro relocated to the United States in 2001 after playing nine years for the Orix Blue Wave in Japan’s Pacific League. When the Blue Wave posted him following the 2000 season, Ichiro’s rights were won by Seattle and he signed a contract with the Mariners. He became the first Japanese born position player to sign a contract and play in the major leagues. Ichiro did not miss a beat in his transition and in 2001 he was voted AL MVP and Rookie of the Year by the BBWAA, becoming just the second player ever to win both awards in the same season since Fred Lynn did it in 1975. That year, he also led the majors in batting average and stolen bases, the first player to do so since Jackie Robinson’s heroic efforts in his 1949 season.

Each and every season he has been in the majors, Ichiro has been a league leader and has on September 16th 2006, in a 7-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals, Ichiro set dual MLB records for hits and stolen bases. That day Ichiro grabbed his AL Single Season Record 33rd consecutive stolen base. He also had two singles in the game in his first two at bats against Mark Redman which helped him extend his own record of most consecutive 200 hit seasons to begin a career to six.

Ichiro is known for his relentless work ethic such as arriving early for games and for his calisthenic stretching exercises to stay limber even during the middle of a game. His work ethic has paid off for him considering that in Ichiro’s worst season, 2005, he posted a career low .303 batting average (a stat most major leaguers wouldn’t mind having as a career high). In continuing a custom he began in Japan, Ichiro uses his first name on the back of his uniform instead of his last name, becoming the first MLB player to do so since Vida Blue.

Ichiro’s career is followed very closely in Japan, with national television news programs covering each of his games with the Mariners. There are even special tour packages arranged for Japanese baseball fans to visit the United States to watch his games. Following suit, many high dollar roster major league teams such as the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have been recruiting Japan’s best baseball players to play in the MLB to the delight of the Japanese fans.

Considering all he has done for the game of baseball, the explosive passion and devotion he has brought to the MLB, hopefully one day Ichiro will receive the distinct honour of being the first Japanese player inducted into the Hall of Fame.