Quick Hit: Reporter Has Been Following Ichiro for 14 Seasons

Former New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners player Ichiro Suzuki left for greener pastures, and stadiums, to play with the Miami Marlins in 2015. The Marlins flew all the way out to Japan to his introductory news conference which really impressed their new fourth outfielder and this week we learned of another humbling experience that Suzuki has been presented with. Apparently a reporter, Nobuyuki Kobayashi, has been following, monitoring and documenting ever move Ichiro has made for the last 14 years.

Kobayashi has been following Ichiro since he came into the league in 2001 and has documented his every move while working for Daily Sports, a Japanese newspaper. Believe it or not Kobayashi is not the only reporter that has borderline stalked the former All Star since 2001, Keizo Konishi of the Kyodo News has also been there since Day One.

I’m not sure how I feel about this, especially since he is now and has been a part time player, but it has to be a humbling experience for Ichiro and definitely an honor that he has earned with his time in the United States and in Japan. Hopefully Konishi and Kobayashi have plenty to write about this season, next and however long he decides to keep going as he continues to run down 3,000 hits in the major leagues.

Ichiro, we’re rooting for you no matter what uniform you have on.