Ichiro Suzuki

No positional player from Japan had seen success in Major League Baseball until hitting star Ichiro Suzuki arrived in Seattle in 2001. He immediately won the American League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. During his career he set a record for most hits in a season, won numerous gold glove fielding awards and batting titles, and in 2016 became only the fourth player born outside of the United States to get to three thousand hits. His combined totals from Japan and the majors make Ichiro the most prolific hitter of all time.