Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki was Sunday named in fan balloting to play in this summer's All-Star game for the eighth consecutive year while Chicago Cubs rookie outfielder Kosuke Fukudome was the only other Japanese player selected.
Ichiro, who won MVP honors after hitting an inside-the-park homer in last year's All-Star game, garnered about 2.01 million votes for third among American League outfielders to secure a spot for the midsummer classic at Yankee Stadium on July 15.
"I would like to think that appearing in the All-Star game (for the eighth consecutive year) is just natural but I haven't reached that point yet," Ichiro, who is batting .302 with 111 hits and 34 stolen bases in 88 games, said.
"This will be the last year of Yankee Stadium, so this holds a special meaning for me."