Ichiro Suzuki just caught Rod Carew on the all-time hits list Thursday (July 6). Ichiro broke another MLB record, setting the mark for most hits by a foreign-born player at 3,054 over his career, and continuing his path to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The oldest player in baseball continues to rack up the hits at 43 years old and still doesn't want to walk away from the game. Currently, Ichiro is playing for the Miami Marlins, serving as the fourth outfielder on a very talented offense.
Batting seventh for the Miami Marlins, Ichiro Suzuki went 2-for-3 at the plate on Thursday.
Though he has had some struggles this season, Ichiro continues to show that he can come up with big hits late in games. When he connected with his second hit of the game in the eighth inning against the Cardinals, he moved into the first spot for foreign-born players in MLB history. It's just another accolade on the growing list of achievements he has had.
What else has Ichiro Suzuki done in his MLB career?
Ichiro Suzuki has a .312 batting average for his career and holds quite a few MLB records. Ichiro is the only player in history to have 10-straight seasons of at least 200 hits. In comparison, Pete Rose was only able to reach three straight seasons where he had at least 200 hits, showing just how good Ichiro has been at the plate.
Ichiro Suzuki also holds the all-time record for most hits in a season. Playing for the Seattle Mariners in 2004, Ichiro beat George Sisler's record by amassing 262 hits. It was one of the seven times that he would lead the league in hits and it won him another Silver Slugger Award. The outfielder has been honored quite a few times during his career and Ichiro has won four Silver Sluggers, 10 Gold Gloves, a Rookie of the Year Award, and an MVP Award.
Is Ichiro a first-ballot Hall of Fame hitter?
When Ichiro Suzuki finally decides to retire from the game of baseball, it should be a short wait until he gets that invite to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Ichiro is a sure-fire first-ballot inductee due to what he has been able to do during his Major League Baseball career.
Taking into account what he did in Japan, he has amassed the most professional hits of any player in history. Even more than the troubled Pete Rose.
There are a lot of fans who want to debate about who was better between Ichiro Suzuki and Pete Rose, but there is one difference that will always stand out among these hitters. While Ichiro Suzuki is only a few years from getting his bust placed on the wall of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Pete Rose is going to need to buy a ticket to gain entry into Cooperstown.
