Part 2/7:
What many may not know is that Ichiro harbored a secret passion for pitching throughout his illustrious career. Interestingly, as a young athlete in high school, he was regarded more as a pitcher than a hitter—skills that would be eclipsed by his monumental hitting prowess in the MLB. Nevertheless, the heart of a pitcher remained with him, longing for the opportunity to take the mound. Before making his mark in the MLB, Ichiro even pitched in a Japanese All-Star Game, clocking pitches at an impressive 92 mph.