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Ichiro retires after Japan Opening Series

Masterpress / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki announced his retirement from Major League Baseball following the conclusion of Thursday's game at the Tokyo Dome.

"I have achieved so many of my dreams in baseball, both in my career in Japan and, since 2001, in Major League Baseball," the 45-year-old said in a statement released by the Mariners. "I am honored to end my big-league career where it started, with Seattle, and think it is fitting that my last games as a professional were played in my home country of Japan."

In the final at-bat of his career, Ichiro grounded out to Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien on the sixth pitch from reliever Lou Trivino, ending the top of the eighth inning.

Ichiro then took the field for the bottom of the eighth. Before the inning began, Mariners skipper Scott Servais made the defensive substitution in right field, lifting the Seattle legend from the game for Braden Bishop.

Returning to the dugout, Ichiro was congratulated by current and former teammates, including Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.

Ichiro joined the Mariners as a 27-year-old in 2001 and became the second player in MLB history to win both Rookie of the Year and league MVP in the same season.

Over his 19-year MLB career, he slashed .311/.355/.402 while racking up 3,089 hits. Including his nine years in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, he retires with 4,367 hits.

Ichiro and all-time hit king Pete Rose are the only players in MLB history to record 3,000 hits from their age-27 season onward, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

The 10-time All-Star spent a dozen years in Seattle to begin his MLB career and also played for the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins.

"I want to thank not only the Mariners," Ichiro added, "but the Yankees and Marlins, for the opportunity to play in MLB, and I want to thank the fans in both the U.S. and Japan for all the support they have always given me."

Ichiro returned to the Mariners in 2018 but, after 15 games, he was removed from the active roster to take on a front office role as a special assistant. It is unclear if he'll transition back into a front office role.

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