Ichiro Suzuki’s batting practice power is the stuff of legends. “He hits more home runs than anyone in batting practice,” Barry Bonds said in 2016, when Bonds was Suzuki’s hitting coach with the Marlins and Suzuki was 42. Ichiro once also claimed that he could hit 40 home runs in a season if he wanted to focus on power at the expense of contact.
Even now, at age 50, Ichiro can still crush the ball. He dropped by a high school in Hokkaido this weekend to help coach the school’s team, and of course he also stepped into the box to take a few swings. Not only did Ichiro hit one out of the park, he hit one so far that it broke one of the school’s windows.
#イチロー さん(50)
— 猫輔🍁 (@NekoSuke5_5) November 6, 2023
フリー打撃で校舎の窓ガラスを破壊 pic.twitter.com/gI3SHp2SEm
His reaction after shattering the pane of glass was also priceless.
According to MLB.com, the towering blast traveled 426 feet and cleared the 26-foot protective netting between the field and the school.
Even though he only hit 117 homers in his big league career, if MLB does move forward with the proposed “legends” home run derby featuring retired stars, Ichiro definitely has to be there.
