Ohtani wishes he could have played against Ichiro

Although the time was right for Ichiro Suzuki to step away from the game, if only for this season, it's a shame he couldn't have waited until after this weekend's series between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels.

Shohei Ohtani, the best player to come out of Japan since Ichiro himself, touched on the former outfielder's legacy, a day after it was announced Suzuki would transition from the baseball diamond to the front office, effective immediately.

"I have nothing but the utmost respect for him," Ohtani said in a team statement, per Maria Guardado of MLB.com. "What he has done for this game, our country, and the fans. I wish we could have played against him, but it wasn't meant to be. Wish nothing but the best for him moving forward."

Had Ichiro delayed his decision, a three-game series featuring both Japanese superstars on opposite ends of their respective careers, would have made for quite the story. Ohtani hasn't pitched since April 24 due to a tender ankle, but is slated to throw a bullpen session on Friday, and, if all goes well, is expected to draw the start in the series finale on Sunday in Seattle.

Ichiro, who hasn't officially ruled out a return in 2019, heads to the front office with a career .353/.421/.522 slash line from his days spent in the Japan Pacific League, and an equally impressive .311/.355/.402 in 18 major-league seasons.