Seven-time Pacific League batting champion Ichiro Suzuki of the Orix BlueWave said Thursday he wants a chance to play in the North American major leagues next season.
"For a number of years, I have had the feeling that I would like to take a shot at playing in the majors," Suzuki told reporters. "I'm happy that I've reached an agreement with the club to open up this possibility."
Orix team president Yutaka Okazoe said he would let Suzuki, who becomes a free agent at the end of the season, try and hook up with a major-league club under an agreement between Japanese and American professional baseball organizations.