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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ichiro goes on the DL

M’s outfielder had bleeding ulcer

Tim Booth Associated Press

SEATTLE – Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki is being treated for a bleeding ulcer and was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday, sending Seattle into opening day minus one of baseball’s best players.

The Mariners said the ulcer is no longer bleeding. Doctors have restricted the 35-year-old outfielder’s activity but are optimistic he’ll be ready to play when he’s eligible to come off the DL on April 15.

Ichiro played for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. He complained of severe fatigue earlier this week and missed Seattle’s final three spring training games in Arizona, and was diagnosed with the ulcer – a relatively rare condition for an athlete – after seeing doctors Thursday.

“I know how much (Ichiro) cares. This is the first time in eight years he’s been on the DL,” Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said Friday night in Las Vegas before the team opened a two-game weekend set against Colorado. “Every indication is that it will be 15 days. We’ll see how he is after that.”

The All-Star right fielder didn’t accompany the team to Las Vegas, instead staying in Arizona and having a light workout at their spring training complex in Peoria on Friday. Seattle opens the regular season Monday at Minnesota.

Ichiro has been remarkably healthy since arriving in Seattle in 2001, missing just 16 games in his eight-year career and only three games in the last five seasons. Ichiro had played in 197 consecutive games.

The move was retroactive to March 31, meaning Ichiro won’t be eligible to come off the disabled list until the second week of the season when Seattle is at home. Wakamatsu said that either Franklin Gutierrez or Endy Chavez will take over the leadoff spot in the batting order and that a variety of players could be used in right, including Ken Griffey Jr.