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[JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Ichiro Suzuki is a Shoo-in for Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025
MLB experts also believe Ichiro Suzuki will become the second player to be a unanimous selection in Hall of Fame balloting. Mariano Rivera was the first.
The official ballot for 2025 National Baseball Hall of Fame candidates won't be released until November 2024. Ichiro Suzuki will be eligible to appear on it for the first time.
To be eligible for consideration as a Hall of Famer in 2025, a player must have had a career of 10 or more seasons in Major League Baseball. He is also required to have retired by 2019. What's more, a player must receive a minimum of 75% of the votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) in Hall of Fame balloting.
In voting for the 26 eligible candidates for 2024, former star third baseman Adrian Beltre received 366 votes (among 385 ballots). Beltre's name appeared on 95.1% of the ballots.
Not unanimous, but the overwhelming support for Beltre's selection for Hall of Fame induction reminds this reporter of the confirmation of former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera in 2019. Rivera became the first player to be elected unanimously.
Now, looking ahead to 2025, numerous longtime baseball observers believe Ichiro will be the second unanimous selection.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is usually held in late July each year in Cooperstown, New York.
In other words, Ichiro should block off several days on his calendar and make plans to be in idyllic upstate New York.
Making the Case for Ichiro Suzuki to Be Inducted in 2025
Journalist and author Robert Whiting, who penned the best-selling You Gotta Have Wa (1989) and The Meaning of Ichiro (2004), among other classics, believes it's a done deal for Ichiro next year.
In an email inquiry on Friday, January 26, Whiting was asked the following: In your opinion, is Ichiro a first-ballot unanimous pick to be an MLB Hall of Famer? Should he be? Will he be, in your prognostication?
He quickly responded with this answer: "Yes, yes and yes. [It] should be unanimous."
Whiting then cited illuminating facts to back up his opinion. He noted Ichiro's record of 10 straight 200-hit seasons at the outset of his MLB career and he cited Ichiro's 3,089 career hits in MLB and a combined total of 4,367 from NPB and the big leagues. This included MLB's all-time single-season record of 262 hits in 2004.
He was a "peerless outfielder," wrote Whiting, "with a great arm."
Another attribute gave Ichiro unique distinction on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.
Ichiro had "the best work ethic in MLB history," Whiting declared.
Additional Views on Ichiro's Outstanding Career
Jordan Shusterman, an MLB analyst for Fox Sports, agrees with Whiting's prediction that Ichiro will become a 2025 Hall of Famer.
"This man racked up 3,089 hits in the majors after collecting 1,278 knocks in Nippon Professional Baseball," Shusterman wrote in a Fox Sports article. "He is completely unlike any player we've ever seen and might ever see again. A living legend through and through, Ichiro's career will be a joy to reflect upon and celebrate further in a year's time."
Similarly, MLB.com's David Adler penned a January article, "7 storylines to follow for 2025 ballot," that underscores how big a story Ichiro's pending selection already is.
Here's a snippet of Adler's analysis: "Ichiro will be on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in 2025, and the only question isn't whether he's a Hall of Famer … It's not even whether he's a first-ballot Hall of Famer … It's whether he'll be the next unanimous Hall of Famer."
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Marines' Sasaki Signs 2024 Contract, Reiterates Desire to Play in MLB
Roki Sasaki, who pitched a perfect game at age 20 in April 2022 for the Chiba Lotte Marines, finalized a contract for the 2024 NPB season on Friday, January 26. Spring workouts begin in early February.
The upcoming campaign will be his fourth in a Marines uniform.
Sasaki had a 7-4 record with a 1.78 ERA in 15 starts in 2023. He fanned 135 batters in 91 innings.
The hard-throwing right-hander is being closely followed by MLB scouts. Sasaki is considered one of NPB's most talented players and a move to the majors via the posting system is expected within the next few years.
At a news conference on Saturday, Sasaki repeated his goal of continuing his baseball career in MLB in the future.
"I have the desire to play in [MLB] in the future," Sasaki was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "I've been communicating [this] every year, [and] I believe the club understands it, too."
Boxing
'Monster' Inoue to Fight at Tokyo Dome in May: Reports
Undisputed super bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue's next fight against Mexican Luis Nery will be held at Tokyo Dome on May 6, according to numerous published reports in recent days.
An official announcement has yet to be made.
A fan favorite in Japan, Inoue (26-0, 23 knockouts) fought at Tokyo's Ariake Arena for his last three bouts. This venue has a maximum capacity of 15,000.
Tokyo Dome can accommodate more than 50,000 spectators. The Big Egg was the setting for James "Buster" Douglas' epic upset of Mike Tyson via a 10th-round knockout for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world on February 11, 1990.
Since Douglas' stunning triumph, a boxing fight of that magnitude has not been staged at Tokyo Dome.
Tennis
Oda Captures Wheelchair Singles Title at Australian Open
In 2023, Britain's Alfie Hewett defeated Japanese rising star Tokito Oda 6-3, 6-1 in the Australian Open men's wheelchair tennis singles final.
Oda avenged that loss on Saturday, January 27, beating Hewett 6-2, 6-4 in their Australian Open final rematch.
Hewett entered the match as the world No 1 and Oda was ranked second.
With his first major title of 2024, Oda will climb to No 1 in the rankings.
"I was able to play aggressively," the 17–year-old Oda said after the match, according to Kyodo News.
He added, "I was able to do what I wanted to do on the court. I'm happy with both my first Australian Open championship and my return to the top of the world rankings."
Oda collected Grand Slam singles titles at the French Open and Wimbledon in 2023.
After their 91-minute duel in Melbourne, Hewett, an eight-time Grand Slam singles winner, commended his opponent for his strong performance.
"It was some high quality tennis there and you [Oda] produced some of the best tennis I have seen you play, so fully deserved today and credit to everything you have done to earn this," Hewett was quoted as saying by the BBC.
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Table Tennis
Hirano Accomplishes Goal of Qualifying for Paris Olympics in Singles
Miu Hirano advanced to the quarterfinals of the All Japan Table Tennis Championships women's singles competition by winning her sixth-round match over Satsuki Odo in straight sets (4-0) on Friday, January 26.
Hirano's victory over Odo secured her a place (a maximum of two per nation) in the women's singles tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Past results and world rankings over the last two years also factored into the qualification process.
In Saturday's quarterfinals, Kaho Akae prevailed against Hirano.
Although she will fall short of contending for the 2024 women's singles national title, Hirano still achieved one of her goals at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
"I am happy that I was able to achieve my minimum goal of qualifying for the Paris Olympics," Hirano said, according to NHK.
She added, "I will reflect on today's loss, and even though I was nervous, I realized that I could not win unless I did what I needed to do."
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Basketball
Ryukyu Steamrolls Past New Taipei in EASL Clash
The reigning B.League champion Ryukyu Golden Kings cruised past the visiting New Taipei Kings 90-67 in an East Asia Super League Group B showdown on Wednesday, January 25 at Okinawa Arena.
Ryukyu (3-3 in group play) outscored New Taipei 55-27 in the second half.
The Golden Kings relied on balanced scoring to claim the victory. Allen Durham paced the hosts with 21 points, teammate Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki sank 5 of 7 3-point shots in a 17-point effort and Vic Law had 16 points and nine rebounds. Ryuichi Kishimoto handed out 11 assists. Keita Imamura finished with 10 points.
For New Taipei (4-1), Hayden Blankley had 16 points, Joseph Lin scored 13 and ex-NBA guard Jeremy Lin added nine.
In Group A, the B.League's Chiba Jets have the best overall record (6-0) in the eight-team tournament. The playoffs will be held in March.
Briefly…
Japanese golfer Ayaka Furue finished tied for fourth in the LPGA Tour's season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions on Sunday, January 21 in Orlando, Florida.
Furue carded a 1-under 71 in the final round and had to settle for an 8-under 280 in the four-round event at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club.
"I couldn't get into a good rhythm, but I was glad to finish the round under par," Furue said, according to Kyodo News. "Considering it was the first tournament of the season, I think I got off to a good start."
New Zealand's Lydia Ko claimed her 20th LPGA Tour title with a 14-under 274.
The Japan men's soccer national team, aka the Samurai Blue, advanced to the round of 16 at the Asian Cup with a 3-1 victory over Group D foe Indonesia on Wednesday, January 24. Up next: Japan faces Bahrain on Wednesday, January 31 in Doha.
In other soccer news, in the 2024 Empress's Cup final, the WE League's INAC Kobe Leonessa triumphed 6-5 in a penalty shootout over the Urawa Reds Ladies on Saturday, January 27 in Osaka.
Quote of the Week
"I'm one step closer to my dream, [and] I will do my best to uphold Japan's expectations and win the gold medal."
―Women's freestyle wrestler Nonoka Ozaki after defeating Ami Ishii in the 68-kg Olympic qualification playoff on Saturday, January 27 in Tokyo, Kyodo News reported.
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.