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Ichiro Suzuki on when he will retire: ‘I think I’ll just die’

Mar 26, 2017; Jupiter, FL, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder Ichiro Suzuki (51) connects for a base hit against the St. Louis Cardinals during a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

When Ichiro Suzuki’s career ends, he has a surefire spot in baseball’s Hall of Fame. He just doesn’t see that day coming any time soon.

In fact, to hear the Miami Marlins outfielder talk, he may not be around to see his own Hall of Fame induction. Why? Well, to make the Hall of Fame, you have to have been retired for five years. Ichiro doesn’t plan on retiring before he leaves this earth.

“Nobody knows what the future holds; but the way I feel, how I’m thinking, I feel like nothing can stop me from doing it,” he said, via Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. “When you retire from baseball, you have until the day you die to rest. … I think I’ll just die.”

Ichiro is showing no signs of slowing down.

In 2016 — his age 42 season — Ichiro played in 143 games, slashed at .291/.354/.376, stole 10 bases and struck out only 42 times in 327 at-bats. He’s still capable of being, at worst, a fourth outfielder. At best, Ichiro can still eat up the big part of a platoon and be either a solid table setter, or bottom of the order guy.

Ichiro may not plan on retiring. But at some point, opposing pitchers will find a way to let him know that his time in MLB is up. But nothing he’s done recently indicates that that day will come any time soon.

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