JUPITER, Fla. -- Future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki knew the Marlins organization could be accommodating before signing a one-year deal with the team this offseason.
As a member of the Seattle Mariners in 2011, Suzuki recalled when the then-"Florida" Marlins held a doubleheader at Safeco Field because of a scheduling conflict with a U2 concert at Sun Life Stadium. Suzuki quipped that perhaps they were "too accommodating at times."
On Tuesday, Suzuki spoke with local media for the first time in orange and black Miami Marlins gear prior to the team's first full-squad workout. Dozens of Japanese media members have followed the 14-year veteran to Jupiter, Florida, where the Marlins hold spring training.
"I think what I wanted most was just the warm feelings that the Marlins gave me," Suzuki said through his translator Allen Turner. "Like everybody knows, the people that came over to Japan to the press conference (did so) so it wouldn't be tough on me to have the physical done in Japan. They are accommodating for me in the fact that here in spring training they'll have a facility for me to have my (Pilates) machines here. In Miami, also the same thing. To accommodate the things that are very important to me as a player.
"There was nothing that came in my way that I didn't like or would say no to, and that's a big reason why I'm here."
In need of a fourth outfielder, Miami took advantage of the market and signed Suzuki in January. He spent his first 11 seasons with the Mariners before being traded to the New York Yankees in 2012. Over 14 seasons, Suzuki is a .317 hitter with 336 doubles, 85 triples, 112 home runs and 717 RBI. Entering 2015, he is 156 hits shy of 3,000.
Suzuki appeared in 143 games in 2014 -- making 95 starts -- the lowest number of his career. He did bat .462 (6 for 13) as a pinch-hitter.
"Obviously I understand and will accept that role, but if you look back at last year I was the fifth outfielder," Suzuki said. "So we'll see how it goes."
Added manager Mike Redmond, a former backup catcher over 13 seasons: "You want every player to be that way. I was a backup catcher but it's not like I said, 'Hey, you know what, I'm just going to sit on the bench and be happy about it.' You always want to play, right? Everybody wants to play. You've got to be ready to play because when you get that opportunity you've got to go in there and contribute.
"He gives us depth at a position where we've got a lot of strength. It's nice to have that depth. We didn't have that last year. At the end of the year when we lost Giancarlo (Stanton) and (Marcell Ozuna) it was tough to fill those spots. This year if something happen,s then we have some depth, which is a luxury we haven't had in the past."
The Marlins will field Gold Glover Christian Yelich, Ozuna -- who led all National League center fielders in home runs and RBI at the time of his ankle injury during the final week of the season -- and All-Star slugger Stanton in the outfield.
Although that trio averages just 24 years in age, it is still considered one of the best in baseball. Yelich and Ozuna played their first full big-league seasons in 2014. Yelich grew up watching the 10-time All-Star when he came over from Japan. He looked forward to "picking his brain and watch how he prepares for a season or a game."
"I think everybody is treating me like I'm really old, but please put me in that group of those young guys," Suzuki said. "I feel like I'm very young, and I want to be included in that group."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
