Legendary NPB, MLB hitter Ichiro Suzuki turns out 147-pitches in guest appearance at Japanese girls' high school
Suzuki, 48, struck out 17 women's high school hitters. His fastball topped 84 miles-per-hour, a premium velocity for women's baseball.
Former NPB, MLB batting superstar Ichiro Suzuki turned his hand to pitching during a visit to a girls' high school in Japan, striking out 17 girls' high school hitters in a 147-pitch effort.
The Japanese superstar has done everything during his famed career expect for taking the field at 50. He will celebrate his 50th birthday on 22 October 2023. However, at age 48, he still made the headlines on a baseball field after accepting to take the field with a high school team and show how to hit home runs during batting practice. He later appeared as a pitcher, facing a women's high school All-Star team in an exhibition game.
Ichiro's fastball topped 84 miles-per-hour, a premium velocity for women's baseball. He struck out 17 and posted a total of 147 pitches.
"High school baseball is very exciting. I hope that I can give something back to the baseball world," commented Ichiro after his certification.
Ichiro will be listed in history books as one of the greatest hitters of all times having recorded 4,367 career hits - 1,278 in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and 3,089 in Major League Baseball (MLB) He won seven consecutive batting titles in NPB's Pacific League and added two playing in MLB's American League. He took the MLB single-season hit record to 262.
A former high school pitcher, Ichiro pitched just one inning during his professional baseball career. He took the mound for the Miami Marlins on Sunday, 4 October 2015, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia against the Phillies, going one inning and allowing one run on two hits.
Ichiro helped Samurai Japan win the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006.
