Ichiro Suzuki Sets Hit Record Against Toronto Blue Jays

Ichiro Suzuki just keeps hitting and hitting and hitting.

No matter the year, you can bank on the New York Yankees having a winning record, Albert Pujols hitting 30 plus HR’s, and Ichiro getting 200 hits.

With two hits on Thursday, Ichiro became the first player in major league history to collect 200 hits in 10 straight seasons. He now is tied with Pete Rose for the most 200-hit seasons in baseball history.

Rose’s 200-hit seasons were spaced out over 15 years, which makes Ichiro’s accomplishments all the more impressive. Ichiro now has 2,230 hits in 10 seasons. Now the question remains: Is Ichiro a first-ballot Hall of Famer?

The answer is 100 percent yes.

When I first saw Ichiro hit back in the spring of 2001, I though there was no chance he would have the same success in the major leagues as he did in Japan. Up until that point, I never saw a hitter try to run and hit the ball at the same time.

Sure, it’s common in softball, but in baseball trying to hit a 85 mph slider? No way. Boy, was I dead wrong.

Ichiro is fascinating and probably the most unique hitter in the history of the game. The way he can get a running start, keep his hands back, and hit an outside fastball going 95 mph almost defies logic.

What is even more amazing about Ichiro is that if you have ever watched him in batting practice, he can hit the ball as far as anyone. If he wanted to change his game completely, he probably could hit 20 HR’s a year. That just tells you what kind of hitter he is.

Ichiro is easily in the top five of the best pure hitters that I have ever seen (last 25 years). He is right up there with Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs, Edgar Martinez, and Paul Molitor.

Ichiro is unquestionably a first-ballot Hall of Famer. The only question that remains is when it is all said and done, is Ichiro the greatest hitter of all time?

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