And if the Mariners do beat out the other West Coast favorites like San Diego and San Francisco, they’ll not only land the most unique players in the game but potentially the latest in an impressive line of Japanese superstars to make a mark on the franchise. Here’s a look at the greatest Japanese-born players to ever suit up for the M’s.
Kenji Johjima
It didn’t take long at all for Mariners fans to see what the front office saw in Kenji Johjima, who took over catching duties in 2006 after longtime fan favorite Dan Wilson hung up the cleats.