Since the day Ichiro Suzuki jogged in from right field at Tokyo Dome in his final appearance as an MLB player, there was never a question his next stop would be the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The superstar outfielder, who began his career in Japan and went on to become one of the greatest hitters in MLB history, took another step toward that destination when he made his debut on the Hall of Fame ballot, which was released Monday.
Ichiro headlines the list of 14 newcomers who join 14 holdovers on the ballot. The results will be announced on Jan. 21. Candidates must be named by 75% of the voters to gain induction. Ichiro would be the first Japanese player inducted in the Hall in Cooperstown, New York.