Ichiro headed to DL with bleeding ulcer

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- For the first time in nine seasons, the Mariners will play a regular-season opener without Ichiro Suzuki in the lineup.

The right fielder was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Friday after being diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer.

The bleeding has stopped and he had a light workout at the Peoria Sports Complex on Friday, but club officials already had decided to put the eight-time All-Star on the disabled list for the first time in his Major League career.

Manager Don Wakamatsu was not available for comment Friday morning to discuss the lineup changes he now must make for Monday night's regular-season opener against the Twins.

Endy Chavez batted leadoff in Thursday's game against the Padres, but he bats left-handed and the Twins are scheduled to start left-hander Francisco Liriano. Wakamatsu might bat center fielder Franklin Gutierrez leadoff.

Wakamatsu said earlier in the week that he thought Suzuki was worn out physically and mentally because of the three-week World Baseball Classic.

Ichiro's status was listed as day-to-day, but it became apparent each passing that he would benefit more by taking some time off to rest and recuperate.

"It was a very difficult decision to place Ichiro on the disabled list," general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a statement released by the club, "especially since we know what a fierce competitor he is, and how important it is to him to help the team. However, we determined it was in both his best interest, and the best interest of the club, to place him on the DL at this time."

Ichiro would be eligible to be activated on April 15, the day after the Mariners play their regular-season home opener against the Angels at Safeco Field.

Ichiro, who helped Team Japan win the Classic for the second time, joined the Mariners on March 26 and played four Cactus League games. But he complained of being light-headed prior to Monday's game against the Brewers. He played three innings before leaving the game and missed the final three games played in Arizona.

While the team traveled to Las Vegas on Thursday for games Friday night and Saturday afternoon against the Rockies, Ichiro remained in Peoria, Ariz., to be examined by team physicians.

Ichiro is still in Arizona, but is expected to return to Seattle while the team plays four games against the Twins and three against the Athletics before returning to the Northwest.

A .331 career hitter with the Mariners, Ichiro has played in at least 157 games in each of his eight MLB seasons, including all 162 in 2005 and '08. He has an MLB record-tying eight consecutive 200-hit seasons.

He has played in 197 consecutive games (dating to Aug. 26, 2007), the fourth-longest active Iron Man streak in the Majors. He has played in 807 of Mariners' past 810 games over the last five seasons, and since coming to Seattle in 2001, has missed just 16 of the Mariners'1,296 games.

Also on Friday, the Mariners announced that Reegie Corona, a Rule 5 Draft choice from the Yankees, was returned to that organization for $25,000, which is half the claiming fee. Corona batted .281 (16-for-57) during the spring, but lost out to veteran Ronny Cedeno for a spot on the 25-man roster as a backup infielder.

Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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I wonder if the mariners let ichiro play in the WBC next time around. I imagine since Japan takes the WBC so much more serious than we do he was under some stress with the WBC then coming right back into ST and the reg season. The ulcer also could have been caused by anti inflamatory drugs like advil.