It was May 2003, and the Seattle Mariners were in Chicago playing the White Sox. The Mariners’ front office told Melvin that Suzuki, who was hovering around 160 pounds, needed off days. So, following the first game of the three-game set, Melvin told Suzuki that he’d have the second game off.

“Lou Piniella was very skeptical,” said Larry Stone, a Seattle Times baseball writer who has covered Ichiro’s career extensively. “That spring training, Ichiro started off not pulling the ball, not driving the ball. And Lou was like, ‘Who is this guy? When is he going to show me something?’”

The family of legendary Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus — the voice of Seattle baseball for more than three decades — shared a quiet exchange they had with Ichiro.

And on Thursday night, that's where Julio Rodriguez found himself. The history was made when Rodriguez stole third base in the first inning. It was his 20th steal of the season. Rodriguez has now stolen 20 bases in each of his first four MLB season. The only other player in Seattle franchise history to do that was Ichiro.

Soon-to-be Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki shares why sitting out much of 2018 with the Seattle Mariners was one of his biggest accomplishments.

Ahead of Ichiro Suzuki's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, these are four lessons from his career.