Super Suzuki's a Seattle sensation

Big in Japan: Suzuki is a hit in his home country

Ichiro Suzuki has made a big impact in his first season with the Seattle Mariners. BBC Sport Online's Kevin Asseo looks at baseball's newest Japanese sensation.

Okay, we knew Ichiro could hit. You don't win any league's batting title for seven consecutive years, as he did in Japan, and not know how to hit.

But we had no idea he could hit like this! And run like this, and field like this, and throw like this.

Ichiro Suzuki, the first non-pitcher to come to America from Japan, has exceeded all expectations so far in his first season as an outfielder and lead-off hitter for the Seattle Mariners.

He has been the driving force behind the Mariners' red-hot start, which has given them the best record in baseball through the first month-and-a-half of the season.

He is a magician. I put the ball in play, but he never seems to miss

  Team-mate John Olerud on Suzuki

This was supposed to be a down year for the Mariners, who lost their best player, superstar short-stop Alex Rodriguez, to the Texas Rangers in the off-season.

Thanks to Ichiro, it has been anything but down.

He has consistently been among the top five hitters in the American League with his batting average regularly rising above the impressive .350 mark.

"He is a magician. I put the ball in play, but he never seems to miss. He's very, very good," said John Olerud, Ichiro's Seattle team-mate.

In addition to his remarkable batting, Ichiro - who prefers to be called by his first name - has excelled at all the little things required from a good lead-off hitter.

He is third in the league in stolen bases and second in runs scored.

Perhaps the biggest surprise about Ichiro has been his defensive play.

He has played a flawless right field and repeatedly displayed a powerful throwing arm.

Suzuki has been given a warm welcome

All this has made Ichiro an overnight sensation in Seattle. He is that rare thing - a rookie superstar.

Probably the last time a rookie generated this much excitement among fans was in 1981.

Then, a plump pitcher from Mexico named Fernando Valenzuela joined the Los Angeles Dodgers and "Fernando-mania" gripped the country.

Although Ichiro has become a star in America, it is nothing compared to his status in Japan.

His exploits have been front-page news in the Japanese newspapers and all Mariners' games are televised live.

Hundreds of members of the Japanese media cover every Mariners game, usually outnumbering the American journalists on hand.

Turning his back

Unfortunately, one gets the impression that Ichiro may not be enjoying all the attention he is getting.

Rather than face reporters after a game, he will stand with his back to them and respond to questions with short answers.

Despite his apparent unease with the media, his performance on the field has not suffered in the least.

Ichiro was named the American League Rookie of the Month in April and appears well on his way to winning the award in May as well.

If his play remains at anywhere near the level it has been so far this season, the prestigious Rookie of the Year award is his for the taking.