SEATTLE -- As much as this weekend has been a celebration of Ichiro Suzuki, with his enshrinement to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, his No. 51 being retired by the Mariners, his statue at T-Mobile Park announced for some point next season and more, the icon also dedicated a portion of the celebration to the 2025 club.
“This year’s team has a great opportunity,” Ichiro said during his speech at T-Mobile Park on Saturday, peering directly to the home dugout and the backdrop of Seattle’s first sellout of 2025. “You guys are strong and talented. Please do not take your talent for granted. You have a great team and a great opportunity in front of you. I understand that there is pressure to win, but the thing is that winning is always tough and never comes without pressure. Accept the pressure and figure out how you can perform at your best under pressure.
“Although I can no longer help you with a hit or a laser-beam throw, my will and desire is always there for you. I come to the field every day because I want to help you be prepared for the moment. I am confident that you can seize the moment.”
The Mariners did exactly that throughout Ichiro’s special weekend, as they capped off a 9-1 homestand with a 6-3 win on Sunday over the Rays that completed their second straight sweep. They’ve now won seven in a row, and their only loss since the Trade Deadline was an extra-innings thriller last Saturday vs. Texas.
On Sunday, Seattle embodied Ichiro’s messaging from the get-go.
Cal Raleigh crushed his MLB-leading 45th homer in the first inning that pulled him into a tie with Hall of Famer Johnny Bench (1970) for second-most by a primary catcher, a two-run blast after leadoff man Randy Arozarena drew a hit-by-pitch.
Immediately after, Julio Rodríguez (single) and Josh Naylor (walk) each reached, putting the pressure on Rays starter Adrian Houser with a double-steal attempt that instead drew a balk, allowing the pair to easily score on an up-the-middle single from Eugenio Suárez.
Seizing the moment, Seattle had a four-spot before recording its first out, wound up sending 10 hitters to the plate and nearly knocked Houser out of the game, with the bullpen stirring as he reached 45 pitches.
Houser wound up settling in, while Bryan Woo grinded some in the middle innings. But Naylor added some valuable insurance with a solo shot in the seventh, one day after returning to the lineup after missing a game with left shoulder soreness.
Sunday’s win ensured that Ichiro’s special weekend ended on a winning note.
“That really hit me a lot, because there are going to be a lot of moments we have to seize if we’re going to get where we want to get,” Rodríguez said of Ichiro’s words of advice to the club. “I really took that to heart. I feel like every player knows how much weight his words carry, because he does it every day. He’s still here, showing up for us every day. It really hit me, and I know a lot of the guys feel the same way.”
Added Raleigh: “It’s pretty cool when he singles us out and talks about us and gives us hope. And obviously, everything he said was awesome. And even from the Hall of Fame speech, he had some really good things to say that I thought resonated with this team a lot.”
Woo also had high praise for Ichiro: “For him to take time out of his speech to address us and do so in a way that was very clear, very positive, but also motivating, I think was pretty cool. And I think everybody in the dugout felt that.”
Rodríguez has arguably the closest relationship with Ichiro of any player on the team, a well-chronicled kinship dating back to when he was a precious prospect and years away from the Majors. Yet, the bridge of past and present -- and really, future -- has a never-gets-old feel every time they’re spotted together.
“The biggest thing was that he never quit on himself,” Rodríguez said. “In the video, they said a lot of people were doubting him, saying, ‘Oh, he might not be able to play here, he might not be able to fit in.’ But he didn’t even need to fit in. I feel like there are so many people worried about fitting in and looking like the person next to them. I just feel like it’s something where you have to keep moving forward, you’ve got to keep staying with the belief in who you are and carry that. That’s something that he did better than anybody else.
“I just really try to take that to heart. He didn’t try to fit in. He kept doing his same pose. He kept doing his same routines with the machines and all that, and look where it got him. That’s what I take from him: Don’t really try to fit in, be yourself, keep doing the little things consistently and see where it takes you.”