Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Suzuki, an outfielder, spent most of his 19-year MLB career with Seattle. After signing with the Mariners in 2001, Ichiro brought unprecedented international attention to the Cactus League. Officials at Peoria Sports Complex had to create an overflow space to accommodate the throngs of Japanese media who followed him to the desert. Ichiro won both the American League MVP and Rookie of the Year that year, embarking on a career that led to his induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025. Following his retirement in 2019, Ichiro became a Major and Minor League instructor for the Mariners, remaining a familiar presence in Peoria each spring.