The Miami Marlins flew five team executives 18 hours to Japan to welcome Ichiro Suzuki to the club.

Suzuki, 41, said the gesture was both humbling and energizing as he prepares for perhaps the final chapter of his Major League career.

He signed a one-year, $2 millioon deal with the Marlins on Tuesday night.

"I felt the incredible enthusiasm," Suzuki said in Japanese. "My feeling then was that somehow I really wanted to respond to their enthusiasm. ... That's also a very good driving force to be a good player for this team. Now what I need to do is prepare for this great season I'm anticipating."