Ichiro Suzuki Gets Standing Ovation, Hits A Home Run In What Could Be His Last At-Bat In Seattle
Last month, Ichiro Suzuki said that he wants to play until he’s 50. For those keeping score at home, this is his age-43 season, so he’d need to play another seven years to make it through his age-50 season. Obviously, he’s not playing until he’s 50, but do I think he’s joking when he says that he’s gonna try? Absolutely not. Even at 43, he’s in better shape than a lot of guys in their 20’s. He keeps himself in phenomenal shape, and he can obviously still swing it.
In his return to Seattle, which the broadcast said was “more than likely his final at-bat at Safeco Field”, the seven-time hits leader (all with the Mariners) hit a home run, the 115th of his 17-year major league career. We all know that popular line that everyone says about Ichiro: “He could hit more home runs if he wanted to.” That never made sense to me. Who wouldn’t hit more home runs if they had the ability to hit more home runs? But I think it’s safe to say that he wanted to hit a home run here, and he did.