Kobe — Ichiro Suzuki welcomed Hisashi Iwakuma to the Seattle Mariners with open arms Sunday, saying the right-hander's addition to the team was a "pleasant surprise.""Playing behind him in right (field) at the WBC, I thought he was the easiest pitcher to play defense for," Ichiro said after working out for two hours as the 38-year-old Seattle veteran tries to rebound from his worst season in the majors."I never thought I'd be playing on the same team with him so this has been a pleasant surprise."Ichiro and Iwakuma, whose one-year contract with the Mariners was announced Friday, played together on Japan's World Baseball Classic-winning team in 2009.Free agent shortstop Munenori Kawasaki, who was also member of the 2009 WBC team, could be joining Iwakuma and Ichiro, having been invited by the Mariners to spring training."I look forward to the day that the three of us including (Kawasaki) can be on the field together," Ichiro said.
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