Ichiro's success in Seattle helped establish Japan as a major TV market for MLBGETTY IMAGES
As the Mariners continue their season-opening Japan trip, RF Ichiro Suzuki has "become a symbol" of MLB's global appeal, and his "presence will continue to be felt as the next Japanese players rise in the U.S., and baseball spreads its borders in Asia and beyond," according to Susan Slusser of the S.F. CHRONICLE. A's manager Bob Melvin said, "I don't know if there's been a more impactful player than Ichiro, at least since I've been doing this. ... It was the first time we saw what Japanese baseball was all about, when he came over here. He's been an ambassador, he's been an entertainer and he's a great player on top of it." Slusser noted Ichiro's influence both in the U.S. and Japan "cannot be overstated." He "kick-started the wave of big-name Japanese players coming to the majors, and his success in Seattle established Japan as a major TV and merchandise market for MLB." Interest in MLB is "healthy in Japan, and in Asia in general." The league makes about $120M annually internationally, and the Asian market, including Korea and Taiwan, accounts for 70% of that. China is "emerging as a strong part of the equation." MLB Senior VP/Int'l Business Jim Small said that the league's "relationship with Japanese baseball is what helped to open the Chinese market" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/19).
