The 2025 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee will play in the outfield for the Mariners on Wednesday
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners have a bye through the wild card round of the playoffs and will play either the Detroit Tigers or Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series at 1:08 p.m. PT or 5:38 p.m. PT on Saturday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
In the lead up to the ALDS, the Mariners will hold a pair of intersquad scrimmages Wednesday and Thursday at T-Mobile Park, with the first set to start at 2 p.m. PT.
Both scrimmages are open to fans. And for those in attendance for Wednesday's scrimmage, they'll get to see one of the greatest players in franchise history in the outfield.
Ichiro Suzuki, who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this year, will play right field for the "home" team during the scrimmage. He isn't expected to bat.
It's a common sight at Seattle games to see Suzuki in the outfield shagging balls before the game. But his impact on the current roster goes beyond that.
During his number retirement ceremony earlier this year, where his No. 51 joined Ken Griffey Jr. (No. 24), Edgar Martinez (No. 11) and Jackie Robinson Jr. (42) as the only numbers retired by the Mariners, he told the team to "seize the moment." That became a mantra for this year's team, which won the American League for the first time since 2001, the same year Suzuki made his MLB debut and won Rookie of the Year and MVP honors.
"What a special year for Ichiro, just on so many levels," Seattle manager Dan Wilson said in a news conference before the scrimmage Wednesday. "An incredible career, an incredible person, incredible professional. To have him around and continuing to give back to this organization, to the game, says a lot about Ichiro. His being around our club all season long — their understanding (of) his experience, what he has brought to the game and how he shares that with guys — makes all the difference."
Suzuki will share the outfield with Julio Rodriguez. The latter will stand at his normal spot in center field. The two have developed a close relationship with each other since Rodriguez's debut in 2022. But Rodriguez won't secede his priority to his Hall of Fame mentor.
"I did see (he was playing right field) last night. I was excited," Rodriguez said before the scrimmage Wednesday. " ... He knows I'm in center field, so ... I don't think age really matters a lot when you're between the lines."
Suzuki was a part of the last Mariners team to make the American League Championship Series, and Rodriguez and the rest of the team will hope to become the first Seattle squad to make and win the World Series.
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