Japan's Ichiro takes MLB hits record for foreign-born player

[July 07, 2017]  (Reuters) - Ichiro Suzuki notched another milestone in his long career on Thursday when he became the most prolific foreign-born hitter in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB).

The 43-year-old Japanese rightfielder reached the mark when he had two hits for the Miami Marlins against the Cardinals in St. Louis.

With 3,054 career hits, Suzuki passed the previous record of 3,053 held by Panama-born Rod Carew.

Ichiro is now 23rd on the all-time list, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

“I think when I’m done playing and I look back, think of the good memories, maybe this is one of those. But that’s tough to do now, still playing,” Suzuki told the Miami Herald.

Ichiro is in his 17th season in the major leagues with his third team after spells with the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees.

Marlins right fielder Ichiro Suzuki (51) looks on from the on deck circle during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. Suzuki hit a single in the eighth inning to become the all time hits leader among foreign born players with 3,054. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

He has played 2,572 regular-season games, and has had nearly 10,000 at-bats, for a career batting average of .312.

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina, editing by Nick Mulvenney)

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