Ichiro has new role, won’t play again in ’18

SEATTLE » Roughly three hours before first pitch on Thursday night, Ichiro Suzuki jogged to join his Seattle Mariners teammates in the outfield, fully in uniform, black mitt in hand, prepping for another pregame routine of catching fly balls and hitting in the cage.

Except there was no game for Suzuki, 44, to get ready for. He wouldn’t be in the lineup on this night, or again in the 2018 season. And maybe his career.

“The past two months have been the happiest I’ve been,” Suzuki said through an interpreter. “I knew one day that the day would come when I would have to walk away. But the Mariners have given me this opportunity to stay on. Obviously, with my teammates and how great they’ve been and how much they mean to me and how much I want to help is the reason I wanted to stay on and help in any way I can.”

Suzuki’s career transitioned Thursday when the Mariners announced he was shifting into a front office role as a special assistant to the chairman. The job isn’t sitting behind a desk but rather more of what Suzuki has done every day of his 18 seasons in the majors. He’ll still be in the clubhouse. He’ll still go through pregame workouts and preparations and take part in batting practice.

When the game begins, Suzuki will be required to leave the bench and take his spot in the clubhouse. He’s a player-coach, except without the player part for the rest of 2018.

Manager Scott Servais said Suzuki’s role will morph over time, but he expects Suzuki to have a hand in helping with outfield defense, base running and hitting.

“I just want it to be kind of organic, it grows, see where it fits in the best,” Servais said.