Translator says Ichiro won't retire after this season

Ichiro Suzuki doesn't appear ready to walk away from the diamond just yet.

Although he's currently mired in one of the worst seasons of his remarkable major-league career as a bench bat with the Miami Marlins, Ichiro's translator told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that the 43-year-old has no plans to retire at the end of this season.

Ichiro became the oldest active player in the majors when Bartolo Colon was released by Atlanta last month. The Japanese icon has appeared in 75 games this year, but has started just 12 of those contests.

This year, Ichiro's hitting a career-worst .220/.267/.294 with a 51 OPS+, a wRC+ of just seven, and only six walks to 25 strikeouts - numbers that are unusual for a man known for his patient approach and adept skills as a contact hitter.

While he acknowledged just last month that "every day (this season) has been a battle for me," it was as recently as this past March that Ichiro was publicly scoffing at the idea of his career ending in the near future.

"The way I feel, how I'm thinking, I feel like nothing can stop me (from playing into my 50s)," Ichiro told the Herald's Clark Spencer on March 29.

Despite his mediocre numbers, Ichiro's still managed to set a few records in his limited action. He's broken Derek Jeter's mark for career hits during interleague play, surpassed Rod Carew for the most MLB hits by a player born outside the United States, and became the oldest player ever to start a game in center field. In April, he also launched a memorable home run during what was potentially his final plate appearance in Seattle, where he played the majority of his Hall of Fame-worthy career.

His next base hit, No. 3,055 in the majors, will push him into a tie with Rickey Henderson for 23rd on the all-time list, and there's still a chance Ichiro could catch Craig Biggio for 22nd (3,060) by season's end.

The 2017 season is Ichiro's 17th in the major leagues, and - when including his nine years in Japan from 1992-2000 - his 26th in professional baseball.