Global baseball's hit king Ichiro Suzuki has become the first Japanese-born player elected to Major League baseball's Hall of Fame .

🇯🇵 The Seattle Mariners star, who retired in 2019, headlines the 2025 Hall of Fame class to be enshrined at Cooperstown, New York , which also includes pitcher CC Sabathia and relief pitcher Billy Wagner.

⚾ In his first year of eligibility, the 51-year-old Ichiro was chosen in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America .

"Happiness and all the joy will probably come later," Ichiro told reporters in Seattle as he admitted he was still absorbing the news

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