Ichiro Suzuki turned 50 years old last month. And just because he retired back in 2019, don’t think that he has stopped playing baseball. If we’re being honest, Ichiro might never stop playing baseball.
Right now, the MLB legend is back in Japan to work with high school baseball players, and he seems to be having a blast. A couple weeks ago, he shattered a classroom window with a home run, which drew a hilarious reaction. And now, he’s taking on an entire high school girls baseball team because of course he is.
Footage from an exhibition game this week hit social media, and we were treated to Ichiro going nine innings on 116 pitches against a high school girls team. He had nine strikeouts, threw around 86 mph with the fastball and actually got out three times at the plate (he was 2 for 5).
50-year-old Ichiro Suzuki pitched a complete-game shutout on 116 pitches against a high school girls team today. He had nine strikeouts, topping out at 86 MPH
He went 2-for-5 at the plate with a double pic.twitter.com/p1Mu1PiOWN
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) November 21, 2023
Sure, Ichiro might be a 50-year-old retiree, but he’s still Ichiro. The pitchers who got Ichiro out will have bragging rights for life.
This wasn’t the first time Ichiro had pitched against a high school girls team in Japan — he did so in 2021 with 17 strikeouts. But this latest footage understandably had MLB fans making jokes about the matchup.
This was how Twitter reacted
Ichiro's a menace for this lol https://t.co/wWBnVsiTnt
— maurice (@tallmaurice) November 21, 2023
Ichiro: https://t.co/zKf8500U6v pic.twitter.com/GuI8LO9AON
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) November 21, 2023
High school girls got Ichiro out 3 times. https://t.co/8VqEWMohDk pic.twitter.com/hBc53w72ft
— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕶𝖓𝖚𝖉𝖘𝖔𝖓 (𝕻𝕮) (@TheKnudson) November 21, 2023
This one goes out to angsty #STLCards Twitter https://t.co/BDQImV6NLA pic.twitter.com/0hclypJDt5
— Josh Jacobs (@joshjacoMLB) November 21, 2023
Don't get it twisted: people using their incredible skills to dunk on literal children is awesome and should be encouraged. https://t.co/VjcPvKQgkg
— The Naked Gambler (@NakedGambling) November 21, 2023
Normalize sports legends carving up children in their 50s. Bring this to all sports. Have David Beckham break a sophomores ankles. Put Shaq in the paint against a 5’3 girl. Make a small town white DB cover Terrel Owens for a full game. This rocks. https://t.co/5JR8d1SKyr
— Cody Campbell (@CodyCampbell12) November 21, 2023
Ichiro just deciding to bully some teens for no reason, a legend https://t.co/ofMbBgOebV
— the autumn of dan rangers numbers (@Danno2430) November 21, 2023
John Mozeliak is rushing to offer Ichiro a 1 year, 10 million dollar deal to be the Cardinals Opening Day starter as we speak https://t.co/M0rYzmQY5k
— Jack Godar (@JackGodar) November 21, 2023
wait a minute ichiro went 2-5 against girls high school pitchers. The story should be about the girls who got him out. https://t.co/aqGFTicaru
— tommystozzled (@tommystozzled) November 21, 2023
Men will literally throw a complete game shutout against a high school girls team and go 2-for-5 at the plate rather than go to therapy https://t.co/0Ut8q1Xe8w
— BK (@TheBennettK) November 21, 2023
Ichiro throwing a complete game gem at 50 vs. a bunch of high school girls is not what I thought I would see on my timeline today… 🤣 https://t.co/ICGTuZVOE8
— Gabe Bock (@GabeBock) November 21, 2023
It’s like when Kramer fights those little kids at the dojo https://t.co/oKxUBJDRqk
— Not Gaetti (@notgaetti) November 21, 2023