Lou Piniella, who in 2001 was Ichiro Suzuki's first big league manager, spoke Tuesday about the Japanese star's start with the Seattle Mariners and the impact of his career.

"We won 116 games (in 2001) and Ichiro was a big part of it," Piniella, now a special consultant with the Cincinnati Reds told a conference call on Tuesday.

"He had a tremendous impact on our team that year. I'm so proud of him. To think in that first year that this young man would be playing at the age of 42 and going for 3,000 hits, I didn't think it was possible then. Two thousand hits would have been an outstanding achievement. I am so happy for him. He's a wonderful man. He's a great ambassador for the game."