Major League Baseball

Marlins officially sign veteran OF Ichiro Suzuki to one-year deal

Published Jan. 27, 2015 10:26 p.m. ET

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The Miami Marlins announced the signing of outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to a one-year contract Tuesday night, making him the first Japanese-born player to sign with the organization.

Suzuki, 41, is a 10-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glover and three-time Silver Slugger. As a rookie in 2001, he not only won the honor of Rookie of the Year but also American League Most Valuable Player. A two-time AL batting champ (2001, 2004), Suzuki set the single-season record with 262 hits in 2004, breaking George Sisler's mark of 257 hits in 1920.

In 14 MLB seasons, Suzuki has a .317 average with 2,844 hits, 1,303 runs, 336 doubles, 717 RBI and 487 stolen bases. After 12 years with the Seattle Mariners, he landed with the New York Yankees in July 2012 via trade.

Prior to his arrival in Seattle, Suzuki was a three-time Pacific League MVP with the Blue Wave in Japan, leading the league in batting average seven straight years from 1994-2000. He became the first Japanese-born position player in major-league history in 2001.

Miami plans to use him as a fourth outfielder with Gold Glover Christian Yelich in left, Marcell Ozuna in center and National League MVP runner-up Giancarlo Stanton in right. Suzuki has appeared in at least 161 games in eight of his 14 seasons. From 2013-14 as a member of the Yankees, he averaged 147.

Suzuki can play all three outfield positions, but 86 percent of his games have been in right. For his career, he has a .302 average (13 for 43) with seven runs and two RBI as a pinch-hitter.

The Marlins will hold a press conference Thursday in Tokyo to introduce Suzuki.

"We are thrilled to have Ichiro Suzuki in a Marlins uniform," Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria said in a statement. "He is the ultimate professional on and off the field, and will make an excellent addition to our ballclub."

You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.

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