The Rising Baseball: Ichiro Drafted Earlier.

[Westbrook 49]

In 2001, Ichiro Suzuki was posted to the Seattle Mariners by Orix Blue Wave. He was only the second everyday Japanese position player.

In Japan, Ichiro was a 7-time All-Star, 3-time MVP, and a Japan Series champion, playing from 1992-2000.

In the US, he was the American League MVP in 2001, has won 9 Gold Glove, and has set the single-season hit record.

My question is this: What if Ichiro was chosen by a US team in 1992? Would he be as big of a superstar in Japan? Would he have been as effective of a ballplayer? If he's chosen by the Mariners, does his addition help Seattle win the ALCS, and possibly the World Series in 1995?
If he is chosen in 92, and is as effective as he is, is he approaching Pete Rose's hit record now?