PEORIA, Ariz. -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today that All-Star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki will be placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 31, and will miss the first week of the regular season.
Ichiro had been suffering severe fatigue, causing him to miss the Mariners last three Cactus League games (March 30-April 1). He was examined by doctors in Arizona who determined that he had suffered a bleeding ulcer. The ulcer is not bleeding now, but in the interim, doctors have ordered restricted activity.
"It was a very difficult decision to place Ichiro on the disabled list," Zduriencik said, "especially since we know what a fierce competitor he is, and how important it is to him to help the team. However, we determined it was in both his best interest, and the best interest of the club, to place him on the DL at this time."
Ichiro will be eligible to return to Major League games on Wednesday, April 15.
Shit.
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From what I can gather with a couple of quick calls, the Mariners are very hopeful Ichiro will be ready to play on April 15, when he's eligible to come off the disabled list. If that's the case, this is not a huge blow. He would miss just eight games, and be back for the second game of the team's first homestand at Safeco, facing the Angels.
That's some relief at least.