Seattle Mariners Manager Dan Wilson Talks About Ichiro as Hall of Fame Gets Ready to Call
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The Seattle Mariners have had several players with ties to the organization get elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and Randy Johnson are just a few former team all-timers who are in the in Cooperstown, N.Y, and those three will be joined by at least one more Mariners great when the Class of 2025 is announced on Tuesday.
Ichiro Suzuki is all but guaranteed to hear his name announced as a part of the 2025 Hall of Fame class, just several days after also being inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.
There's also a chance that Suzuki will be just the second-ever unanimous Hall of Fame selection, joining reliever Mariano Rivera.
One night before Suzuki finds out whether or not he'll join Griffey Jr., Martinez and Johnson in the Hall of Fame; MLB Network shared a video on "X" (formerly known as Twitter) of former teammates and even opposing managers complimenting and sharing stories of Suzuki from his playing days.
One of those former teammates was current Seattle manager Dan Wilson:
"One of my first memories (of Suzuki) was being part of Spring Training with him when he first got the club and watching one of his first batting practices," Wilson said. "He could hit the ball a mile."
Another former Mariners teammate of Suzuki's and current Los Angeles Dodgers staff member Raul Ibanez complimented the often-underrated power of the 2001 American League MVP:
"Ichiro could have hit 35 homers a year if he wanted to," Ibanez said. "He had that much power."
"Ichiro could've hit 35 homers a year if he wanted to. He had that much power."
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 20, 2025
One of the most unique hitters in baseball history is now eligible for the call to the @baseballhall.
📺 Hall of Fame election announcement
🕰️ 4pm ET tomorrow on MLB Network pic.twitter.com/MKFORXEPN0
There are few players who receive as much universal praise as Suzuki does. And that high regard will likely be on display when he's announced to the 2025 Hall of Fame class on Tuesday.
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