Ichiro Suzuki Discusses Retirement Ceremony, Being Surrounded by Fellow Legends

Suzuki gave a speech on the infield during the ceremony, surrounded by Martinez, Griffey, and fellow Seattle legends and team Hall of Famers Randy Johnson, Jay Buhner, Felix Hernandez and others. Several front office members and executives were also part of the festivities.

In addition to his number being retired, team CEO/chairman John Stanton announced Suzuki will get his very own statue outside T-Mobile Park in 2026. Griffey, Martinez and late broadcaster Dave Niehaus all have their own statues, as well.

Suzuki didn't know about the statue before Stanton announced it, according to comments made in a pregame news conference Sunday.

The whole day was almost surreal, and it was something Suzuki couldn't imagine when he came to the U.S. in 2001.

"In Cooperstown, I spoke about goals and dreams," Suzuki said via interpreter Allen Turner on Sunday. "What happened last night is something that can't even be both. You couldn't have that as a goal or a dream. It's just something that — I just can't believe it. I felt like the people around me that helped me along the way to get there, obviously I need to thank them. And I was able to get here and, like I said, it's just something that you couldn't even dream or think about. And it actually happened."

Suzuki played in the majors for parts of 19 seasons from 2001-19. He came to the U.S. after nine seasons (1992-2000) in Japan with the Orix BlueWave of Nippon Professional Baseball. Suzuki spent 14 of his seasons in the majors in the Pacific Northwest (2001-12, '18-19). In 2001, he became one of two players in MLB history to win Rookie of The Year and MVP in the same season. He had 262 hits in 2004, which set the MLB single-season record. He retired with 4,367 hits including his time in Japan — more than any professional baseball player in history.