Who Is Ichiro Suzuki? Age, Biography and Wiki
Ichiro Suzuki, born on October 22, 1973, is a retired Japanese professional baseball player renowned for his remarkable career in Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). As of 2025, Ichiro is 51 years old. He is widely regarded as one of the best hitters in baseball history, known for his exceptional batting skills and speed on the base paths. Over his illustrious career, Ichiro has amassed numerous accolades, including multiple Gold Glove Awards and MVP titles.
| Occupation | Baseball Players |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | October 22, 1973 |
| Age | 51 Years |
| Birth Place | Nishikasugai-gun, Aichi, Japan |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Country | Japan |
Popularity
Ichiro Suzuki's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Ichiro stands at an impressive height of 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 meters) and weighs approximately 180 pounds (82 kg). His athletic build and exceptional agility contributed to his success on the field. At this stage in his life, Ichiro maintains a fit physique, reflecting his dedication to health and fitness even after retirement.
Suzuki made his NPB Pacific League debut in 1992 for the Orix BlueWave at the age of 18, but he spent most of his first two seasons in the farm system (accumulating 156 minor league hits and a .368 batting average) because his then-manager, Shōzō Doi, refused to accept Suzuki's unorthodox swing.
The swing was nicknamed 'pendulum' (振り子打法) because of the pendulum-like motion of his leg, which shifts his weight forward as he swings the bat, and goes against conventional hitting theory.
In his second career game, he recorded his first ichi-gun (Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball League) hit in the Pacific League against Fukuoka Daiei Hawks pitcher Keiji Kimura.
Despite hitting a home run in 1993 against Hideo Nomo, who later won the National League Rookie of the Year Award, Suzuki was nevertheless sent back to the farm system on that very day. In 1994, he benefited from the arrival of a new manager, Akira Ōgi, who played him every day in the second spot of the lineup.
He was eventually moved to the leadoff spot, where his immediate productivity dissolved any misgivings about his unconventional swing. He set a Japanese single-season record with 210 hits, the first player ever to top 200 hits in a single season.
Five other players have since done so: Matt Murton, Norichika Aoki (twice), Alex Ramírez, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, and Shogo Akiyama.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Ichiro Suzuki is known to be private about his personal life. However, it is widely recognized that he is married to his long-time partner, Yoshiko Suzuki. The couple has maintained a low profile but has been spotted together at various events. They have no known children and seem to prioritize their privacy over the media spotlight.
Suzuki grew up in Toyoyama, a small town just outside Nagoya. At the age of seven, Suzuki joined his first baseball team and asked his father, Nobuyuki Suzuki (鈴木宣之), to teach him to be a better player.
The two began a daily routine, which included throwing 50 pitches, fielding 50 infield balls and 50 outfield balls, and hitting 500 pitches, 250 from a pitching machine and 250 from his father.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Ichiro Suzuki's net worth is estimated to be around $180 million. This substantial wealth is attributed to his successful baseball career, lucrative endorsements, and business ventures. During his time as a player, Ichiro earned significant salaries, including a reported $90 million from his MLB contracts alone, with additional income from endorsements with major brands.
In 2000, Suzuki was still a year away from being eligible for free agency, but the Blue Wave was no longer among Japan's best teams. Because the team would probably not be able to afford to keep him and would lose him without compensation in another year, Orix allowed him to negotiate with Major League clubs.
Suzuki used the posting system, and the Seattle Mariners won the right to negotiate with him with a bid of approximately $13 million. In November, Suzuki signed a three-year, $14 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. In his nine NPB seasons in Japan, Suzuki had 1,278 hits, a .353 career batting average, and won seven Golden Glove Awards.
Suzuki's time in the Japanese baseball leagues matured him as a player and a person, and he often credits it for his success.
Career, Business and Investments
Ichiro's illustrious baseball career spanned over two decades, during which he played for teams like the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Miami Marlins. Not only did he achieve incredible personal milestones, such as over 3,000 hits in MLB, but he also became a cultural icon bridging Japanese and American baseball.
Post-retirement, Ichiro has engaged in various business ventures, including investments in sports memorabilia, a sushi restaurant business, and mentoring young athletes. His keen eye for opportunity has allowed him to secure a financially stable future beyond the baseball diamond.
Ichiro Suzuki (鈴木 一朗), also known mononymously as Ichiro (イチロー), is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder who played for 28 seasons. He played the first nine years of his career with the Orix BlueWave of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and the next 12 years with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Suzuki then played two and a half seasons with the New York Yankees and three with the Miami Marlins before returning to the Mariners for his final two seasons. He won two World Baseball Classic titles as part of the Japanese national team. He also became the Mariners' special assistant to the chairman in 2019.
He is regarded as one of the greatest contact hitters, leadoff hitters and defensive outfielders in baseball history.
Social Network
Ichiro Suzuki has maintained a notable presence on social media, primarily using it to connect with fans and share insights into his life post-baseball. While he has not been overly active on platforms like Instagram and Twitter, he occasionally posts about his travels, baseball-related events, and personal interests. His followers appreciate his candidness and the glimpses he shares of his life after retirement.
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 eclipsed the record of most seasons played by a position player held previously by 19th century MLB player Cap Anson. (MLB pitcher Nolan Ryan, like Anson, also played 27 seasons, while NPB pitcher Kimiyasu Kudo played 29 seasons).
Education
Ichiro attended Aikodai Meiden High School in Japan, where he first showcased his talent in baseball. His passion for the sport was evident from a young age, and he later went on to play for the Orix BlueWave in the NPB. While specific details about his formal higher education are limited, his understanding of the game and dedication to honing his skills has been evident throughout his career.
He built strength and stamina by hurling car tires and hitting Wiffle balls with a heavy shovel, among other regimens. These exercises helped develop his wrists and hips, adding power and endurance to his thin frame.
Despite his outstanding numbers in high school, Suzuki was not drafted until the fourth round of the NPB draft in November 1991, because many teams were discouraged by his small size of 5 ft and 124 lb.
Years later, Suzuki told an interviewer, "I'm not a big guy, and hopefully kids could look at me and see that I'm not muscular and not physically imposing, that I'm just a regular guy. So if somebody with a regular body can get into the record books, kids can look at that. That would make me happy."
