Recently retired Japanese baseball icon Ichiro Suzuki said Tuesday that he is excited to take on a new player instructor role with the Seattle Mariners, despite being uncertain about exactly what he will be asked to do.

"It will be a different situation, but I'll get to be with my teammates again. I don't know what I can do, but being on the same side and exploring possibilities will be fun, no doubt," Suzuki said.

While the 19-year MLB veteran admitted he will not be as physically active as he was in his playing days, showing a strong work ethic seems to come naturally to the 45-year-old who built a majors career that will almost certainly see him inducted into the Hall of Fame.

"I won't be training as much as I did last year. But I still have strength. If I'm asked to demonstrate something, of course, I'd be happy to. It just won't be the same as last year. I have to become fit first," he said.


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In his new role, the 3,000-hit club member will work with Mariners players as well as with members of the team's AAA minor league affiliate the Tacoma Rainiers, focusing on developing outfield and base-running play while helping the batting coaches improve the players' hitting.

Jerry Dipoto, the Mariners executive vice president and general manager of baseball operations, said Suzuki will start in the role on Tuesday while retaining his title of special assistant to the chairman.

Ichiro will report to Dipoto and will work the majority of Mariners' home games, predominantly helping players with their pre-game preparations.

Suzuki announced his retirement in March following the Mariners' season-opening series against the Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome in Japan. Playing in his 28th professional season, he started in the outfield but was hitless in the two games.

Suzuki joined the Mariners in 2001, becoming a fan favorite across two countries with his unique batting style, speed and defense. That year, he won the American League's Rookie of the Year and MVP Awards as he helped lead the Mariners to a record-tying 116-win season.

Suzuki, who started his career in 1992 with the Orix BlueWave, now known as the Orix Buffaloes, has more hits in professional baseball than any other Japanese player with 4,367 in Japan and the major leagues.

He signed with the New York Yankees in 2012 before joining the Miami Marlins in 2015. After returning to the Mariners last year, he was cut last May and given a front office role for the rest of the season.