Seattle Mariners special assistant and instructor Ichiro Suzuki expressed surprise on Feb. 23 (local time) regarding the appointment of Hideki Matsui as the new manager of the Yomiuri Giants, noting the heavy expectations resting on Matsui’s shoulders as he takes over the Nippon Professional Baseball franchise.
Ichiro Surprised by Giants Manager Appointment
Speaking to reporters in Seattle, Suzuki admitted he initially doubted Matsui would take the managerial post because of family commitments in New York. “I dropped my jaw because I thought it would be difficult with his family in New York,” Suzuki said. “It is a decision that shows a considerable amount of resolve.” Suzuki added that Matsui is the only figure capable of generating such anticipation regarding managerial personnel across Japanese professional baseball.
Shared Values Formed Through Kobe Chiben Play
The two deepened their relationship starting in 2024 by playing together on the baseball team Kobe Chiben. Over three years of conversations, Suzuki observed Matsui’s adherence to the tradition, dignity, and heavy atmosphere associated with the Yomiuri Giants and the New York Yankees. Suzuki remarked that Matsui’s professional standards differed from his own in everyday interactions. He recalled how Matsui consistently wore a jacket to meals even when Suzuki wore a denim pair of shorts and a T-shirt, explaining to Suzuki that dressing up demonstrated respect for the establishment.
Suzuki and Matsui Value Professional Intensity on Field
Suzuki praised Matsui for maintaining an uncompromising mindset toward professional baseball, noting they shared a mutual disdain for casual on-field interactions with opposing players during games. “When you consider that professional baseball is supported by paying customers, such uncomfortable scenes must not happen,” Suzuki said. “It is always important to be in a fierce battle and to always have the awareness of being watched, no matter the era. We shared that universal value.”
Departure Leaves Void in Kobe Chiben Lineup
Matsui’s departure to lead the Yomiuri Giants leaves a significant personnel gap for Suzuki’s squad. Suzuki described the loss of his key player as painful and a “height of regret,” while emphasizing that the preceding three years of close association created a bond that otherwise might never have formed. “If that three years hadn’t happened, the possibility of us intersecting this deeply might never have existed,” Suzuki said. “That time was truly a treasure for me and my teammates. A teammate becoming the manager of the Giants—there is nothing more proud than that.”
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