Ichiro Suzuki will not play again this season. The Seattle Mariners announced that the former superstar outfielder will be integrated into the front office. However, the Japanese will not officially resign yet.
“For the last two months I have been extremely happy,” Ichiro said with the help of an interpreter: “I knew that one day the day would come when I would have to leave the game. But the Mariners gave me a chance to move on. My teammates were so great and mean so much to me that I wanted to stay and help them in every way.”
The Mariners announced that Ichiro will work as the Chairman’s Special Assistant until the end of the season. However, he will not be sitting in the office, but rather with the team every day in the ball park and in the cabin. He will also participate in pre-match training and batting practice.
However, when the game begins, he must leave the dugout and will be in the cabin.
According to manager Scott Servais, the specific area of responsibility of the Japanese includes help in areas such as outfield defense, base running and hitting. “I just want it to be organic. It should grow and then we’ll see what fits best.”
Ichiro also stressed: “During the game, I will make the same preparations as I did before. Nothing will change for me compared to my time as a player.” He jokingly added: “But I can’t say for sure that I won’t perhaps put on a beard and sunglasses and sit in the dugout like Bobby Valentine.”
Officially, the Mariners dismissed Ichiro from his one-year contract to make room in the squad. But the camp of Ichiro did not yet want to speak of resignation: “At the present time Ichiro does not intend to resign. Obviously, he won’t be playing in 2018. But 2019 has yet to come,” his agent John Boggs told ESPN.
This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.