Editing Ichiro Suzuki (section)

===Return to the Mariners (2018&ndash;2019)===
====2018====
[[File:Ichiro Suzuki - Minnesota Twins - Opening Day vs Seattle Mariners (27394574508) (Cropped).jpg|250px|thumb|right|upright|Suzuki during his second stint with the Mariners in 2018]]
On 7 March 2018, Suzuki signed a one-year contract to return to the [[2018 Seattle Mariners season|Mariners]] after several team outfielders were injured during spring training.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 March 2018 |title=Mariners re-sign Ichiro |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22678294/seattle-mariners-bring-back-ichiro-suzuki-1-year-deal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308042245/http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22678294/seattle-mariners-bring-back-ichiro-suzuki-1-year-deal |archive-date=8 March 2018 |access-date=7 March 2018 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> On [[Opening Day]], 29 March, against the [[Cleveland Indians]], Suzuki became the 20th outfielder all-time to record 5,000 [[List of Major League Baseball career putouts as an outfielder leaders|career putouts at the position]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The latest buzz around baseball star Ichiro Suzuki |url=http://nikkeivoice.ca/the-latest-buzz-around-baseball-star-ichiro-suzuki/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218083045/http://nikkeivoice.ca/the-latest-buzz-around-baseball-star-ichiro-suzuki/ |archive-date=18 February 2019 |access-date=18 February 2019 |website=Nikkei Voice}}</ref> At 44 years old, he entered the 2018 season as the second-oldest active player in baseball, behind only [[Bartolo Colón]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mintz |first1=Jake |last2=Shusterman |first2=Jordan |date=29 March 2018 |title=Ichiro became the 5th-oldest player to start Opening Day; here are the others |url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/the-oldest-players-to-start-on-opening-day/c-269990206 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218081745/https://www.mlb.com/cut4/the-oldest-players-to-start-on-opening-day/c-269990206 |archive-date=18 February 2019 |access-date=17 February 2019 |website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>

On 3 May, the Mariners announced that Suzuki would move to the front office as a special assistant to the chairman for the remainder of the season,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=May 3, 2018 |title=Ichiro Suzuki Moves To Front Office Role, Will Not Continue Playing In 2018 |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/05/ichiro-suzuki-retire-mariners-front-office.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503214749/https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/05/ichiro-suzuki-retire-mariners-front-office.html |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=3 May 2018 |website=MLB Trade Rumors}}</ref> but Suzuki did not rule out a possible return as a player for the 2019 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gleeson |first=Scott  |date=3 May 2018 |title=Ichiro Suzuki says he will retire 'when I start using a cane' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/mariners/2018/05/03/ichiro-suzuki-retirement-seattle-mariners-front-office/579669002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623193604/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/mariners/2018/05/03/ichiro-suzuki-retirement-seattle-mariners-front-office/579669002/ |archive-date=23 June 2018 |access-date=3 July 2018 |website=USA TODAY Sports}}</ref> In his final game for the year on the previous day, he went 0-for-3 with a walk, a strikeout, and a run in a 3–2 loss to the [[Oakland Athletics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA201805020.shtml |title=Oakland Athletics at Seattle Mariners Box Score |date=2 May 2018 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=3 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504091835/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA201805020.shtml |archive-date=4 May 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref> This would end up being his last game played at Safeco Field. In 15 games played with the [[2018 Seattle Mariners season|2018 Mariners]], Suzuki batted 9-for-44 (.205/.255/.205) without an extra base hit, stolen base, or RBI.

On 11 May, he became the interim bench coach for two games as manager [[Scott Servais]] was gone to attend his daughter's college graduation and regular bench coach [[Manny Acta]] was filling in as manager.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/05/11/baseball/mlb/ichiro-fill-mariners-bench-coach-weekend-series/|title=Ichiro to fill in as Mariners bench coach for weekend series|date=11 May 2018|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=4 July 2018|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704093822/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/05/11/baseball/mlb/ichiro-fill-mariners-bench-coach-weekend-series/|archive-date=4 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2019====
On 2 October 2018, it was announced that Suzuki would be on the Mariners' active roster when they opened the [[2019 MLB season|2019 season]] against the [[Oakland Athletics]] in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Zucker|first1=Joseph|title=Ichiro Suzuki to Be Included on Mariners Roster for 2019 Japan Series|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2798751-ichiro-suzuki-to-be-included-on-mariners-roster-for-2019-japan-series|website=BleacherReport.com|date=2 October 2018|access-date=11 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112021716/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2798751-ichiro-suzuki-to-be-included-on-mariners-roster-for-2019-japan-series|archive-date=12 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Carroll|first1=Charlotte|title=Ichiro Expected On Mariners Roster for Japan Series To Open 2019 Regular Season|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/10/02/ichiro-suzuki-mariners-japan-series-opens-2019-regular-season|website=SI.com|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=2 October 2018|access-date=11 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112101346/https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/10/02/ichiro-suzuki-mariners-japan-series-opens-2019-regular-season|archive-date=12 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Suzuki was re-signed to a minor league deal on 23 January 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johns |first=Greg  |date=23 January 2019 |title=Source: Ichiro inks Minors deal with Mariners |url=https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-ichiro-suzuki-have-minor-league-deal/c-303026988 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124203314/https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/mariners-ichiro-suzuki-have-minor-league-deal/c-303026988 |archive-date=24 January 2019 |access-date=24 January 2019 |website=MLB.com}}</ref>

On 20 March 2019, the Mariners opened the MLB season against the Athletics at the [[Tokyo Dome]] and Suzuki started the game in right field, becoming at 45 years old the second oldest position player (behind [[Julio Franco]]) to start for a team on its opening day.<ref name="c532">{{cite web | last=Langs | first=Sarah | title=Oldest players to start Opening Day | website=MLB.com | date=2019-03-20 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/oldest-players-to-start-on-opening-day | access-date=2024-09-17}}</ref> The next night, the Mariners again played the Athletics at the Tokyo Dome and Suzuki played in his final professional game. He went 0–4 at the plate and in the bottom of the eighth inning walked off the field to applause.<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2826954-report-legend-ichiro-suzuki-to-retire-after-nearly-30-years-in-mlb-japan | title=Legend Ichiro Suzuki Retiring After Nearly 30 Years in MLB, Japan | work=[[Bleacher Report]] | author=Mike Chiari | date=21 March 2019 | access-date=21 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322025921/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2826954-report-legend-ichiro-suzuki-to-retire-after-nearly-30-years-in-mlb-japan | archive-date=22 March 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref> Later in the day, Suzuki officially announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Johns|first1=Greg|title=Ichiro announces retirement after emotional finale|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ichiro-in-lineup-for-opening-series-finale|website=MLB.com|publisher=[[MLB]]|date=21 March 2019|access-date=21 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321122513/https://www.mlb.com/news/ichiro-in-lineup-for-opening-series-finale|archive-date=21 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> He was the oldest active MLB player at the time.<ref name="e790">{{cite web | last=Leitch | first=Will | title=Oldest players in Major League Baseball | website=MLB.com | date=2019-03-21 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/oldest-players-in-major-league-baseball | access-date=2024-09-17}}</ref>

2019 was Suzuki's 19th season in the MLB, and including the nine years he played in Japan's NPB, Suzuki's 28 seasons of playing in baseball's top-tiered leagues<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=suzuki001ich|title=Ichiro Suzuki Japanese Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/03/24/figure-skating/yuzuru-hanyu-gushes-retiring-baseball-star-ichiro-suzuki/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325113843/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/03/24/figure-skating/yuzuru-hanyu-gushes-retiring-baseball-star-ichiro-suzuki/|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 March 2019|title=Yuzuru Hanyu gushes about retiring baseball star Ichiro Suzuki|date=24 March 2019|via=Japan Times Online}}</ref> eclipsed the record of most seasons played by a position player held previously by 19th century MLB player [[Cap Anson]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/leaders_most_seasons.shtml|title=Most Seasons Played|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> (MLB pitcher [[Nolan Ryan]], like Anson, also played 27 seasons,<ref name="auto"/> while NPB pitcher [[Kimiyasu Kudo]] played 29 seasons).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kudoh-001kim|title=Kimiyasu Kudo Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

On 30 April 2019, Suzuki renewed his role with the Mariners from the previous year as special assistant to the chairman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/333aca287e7b4fc9ba5d609f918b0458|title=Ichiro Suzuki back with Mariners as special assistant|first=Tim|last=Booth|date=1 May 2019|website=AP NEWS}}</ref>