Watch star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki pitch an inning for the Marlins

Before he became an international superstar as an outfielder, Ichiro Suzuki was a high school pitcher in Japan. Ever since then he’s wanted to return to the mound.

On Sunday, the final day of his 15th Major League season, Ichiro got his wish. With his Miami Marlins trailing the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-2, going into the bottom of the eighth, the 41-year-old got to pitch an inning of relief.

Marlins Manager Dan Jennings had been talking to Ichiro about the possibility for about a month.

“The situation had to be right,” Jennings said. “And so his last at-bat, he’s on deck and looks down at me and says, ‘You thinking about it?’ I said, ‘Oh yeah, it’s done, you’re in, you got it.’ And you know what, he’s earned that because of who he is and the player and the career that he’s had.”

Turns out the 10-time Gold Glove-winning outfielder and two-time American League batting champ isn’t a bad pitcher either. He gave up one run on two hits with a ground out and two fly outs.

“I thought my fastball was going to be my best pitch, but it was my slider,” Ichiro said through an interpreter. “I was shocked that my fastball wasn’t my best pitch.”

He added with a laugh: “I can’t say it was fun, but I’ll never talk bad about a pitcher again.”