SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 17: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels bows to former Seattle Mariners player Ichiro Suzuki before the game at T-Mobile Park on June 17, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. MLB Rumors (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Shohei Ohtani pays Ichiro Suzuki the ultimate respect
Shohei Ohtani is on top of the world. The Japanese player just led his team to the World Baseball Classic championship. He’s a two-way superstar known around the world, and is one Aaron Judge record-breaking season away from being a surefire back-to-back AL MVP winner.
Suffice to say, but Ohtani is the best player in baseball right now. He’s a well-rounded power hitter and ace pitcher all in one, and it’s why he’ll earn a record free-agent contract next offseason should he stay healthy.
On Monday, Ohtani got the chance to meet with Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki on the field in Seattle. This wasn’t the first time the pair had met, but to Ohtani it’s all the same — Suzuki is baseball royalty.
Shohei Ohtani took off his hat and bowed to baseball legend Ichiro Suzuki ❤️🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/6PAIn4viyX
— ESPN (@espn) April 4, 2023
“Growing up, Ichiro was for me the way that I think some kids, some people, look at me today,” Ohtani says of Suzuki in a recent GQ Magazine profile. “Like I’m a different species. Larger than life. He was a superstar in Japan. He had this charisma about him.”
Seattle should be among several teams that pursue Ohtani this offseason. Perhaps the presence of Ichiro could help sway him to the Pacific Northwest.