This was pretty cool to see.
The Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani and baseball legend Ichiro Suzuki already have incredible respect for one another, but it ratcheted up even more when the two met before the Angels-Seattle Mariners game Monday. And the two did so for the first time sharing a title: They’re both World Baseball Classic champions.
Ohtani helped lead Japan to winning the Classic on March 21, marking the first tournament championship for the Japanese since the Ichiro-led squad won back in 2009.
Ohtani walked up to Ichiro in the outfield grass before Monday’s contest, removed his hat and bowed to the legend. If you’re not aware, Ichiro is a special assistant to the chairman for the Seattle Mariners, as well as an instructor with both the MLB and Triple-A ball clubs. The legend is regularly seen during batting practice before home games. When the Angels are in town, Ohtani and Ichiro almost always catch up.
Game recognize game. 🇯🇵❤️ pic.twitter.com/pqDvkpliS3
— MLB (@MLB) April 4, 2023
I always loved Ichiro Suzuki back in his playing days, and I’m a fan of Shohei Ohtani (despite his Japanese beating my Americans in the World Baseball Classic), so this was a pretty cool moment to see.
Plus, Japanese culture has always been cool to me. I just love how disciplined they are, and I share a solid amount of interests with the good people of Japan other than just baseball, such as professional and sumo wrestling. And I’d also like to mention how genius they are for creating something as iconic as Pokémon. (RELATED: Los Angeles Angels’ Anthony Rendon Suspended For Grabbing Fan In Stands By The Shirt)
Japanese culture has so much swagger.