Hit man cometh

Global baseball's hit king Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese-born player elected to Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame, just one vote shy of unanimous selection. The former Seattle Mariners star headlines the 2025 Hall of Fame class to be enshrined at Cooperstown, New York, which also includes pitcher CC Sabathia and relief pitcher Billy Wagner. In his first year of eligibility, the 51-year-old Ichiro was chosen in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America - but Yankees pitching great Mariano Rivera remains the only unanimously elected Hall of Famer. At a press conference at the Mariners' ballpark, Ichiro said he was still absorbing the news after getting the official Hall of Fame call. "Happiness and all the joy will probably come later," he said. "At that time, it was just a relief." The call to Cooperstown was something he hadn't imagined even as he rose to stardom in his homeland. "There was a time that I didn't even know if I'd get the chance to play in the MLB. So what an honor it is for me to be here and to be a Hall of Famer. It's a special day." The Mariners made it even more special, announcing they would retire his N 51 jersey in August. "Ichiro is a superstar who has inspired the hopes and dreams of many," Tokyo's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters. Ichiro was 27 when he made his debut with the Mariners in 2001, becoming the first Japanese position player to play in the US major leagues. He won both American League Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year honors that year, going on to earn 10 All-Star nods, 10 Gold Glove awards and three Silver Slugger Awards. Ichiro finished his career with 3,089 hits in MLB - on top of 1,278 he piled up in nine years in Japan. His 4,367 hits as a professional are the most of any player in baseball history. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE