in a single MLB game due to an injury. NPB players who have nine or more years of playing service with NPB can become international free agents and do not need to enter MLB through the posting system. The remaining Japanese players that have played in MLB have either signed as free agents or signed as amateur players. Mac Suzuki, Kazuhito Tadano, and Junichi Tazawa are the only Japanese players to have debuted in MLB without previously playing in NPB. All 30 MLB teams have had at least one Japanese player on their roster. Japanese players have had a range of success in MLB. Twelve players have been selected to participate in the All-Star Game; Ichiro Suzuki has made the most appearances with ten. In addition to these selections, Ichiro has won several prestigious MLB awards including the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award and the AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2001, the All-Star Game MVP Award in 2007 and multiple Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards. Ichiro also holds the MLB record for the recording the most hits in a single season. Hideo Nomo was the only Japanese pitcher to throw a no-hitter until Hisashi Iwakuma accomplished the feat on August 12, 2015. Nomo threw two in total; the first came in 1996 and the last occurred in 2001. Thirteen Japanese players have played in the World Series. Of these players, So Taguchi has won the most with two and Hideki Matsui is the only one to win the World Series MVP Award. The 2007 World Series had the most Japanese players, with Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima pitching for the Boston Red Sox, and Kazuo Matsui playing for the Colorado Rockies. Table key Current players * Games played through the 2022 regular season. Former players Awards, records and notable accomplishments Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame Ichiro Suzuki, inducted on August 27, 2022. Awards and accolades Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award: Ichiro Suzuki, 2005; Shohei Ohtani, 2021 Most Valuable Player Award: Ichiro Suzuki, 2001 AL; Shohei Ohtani, 2021 AL (unanimous selection) Rookie of the Year Award: Hideo Nomo, 1995 NL; Kazuhiro Sasaki, 2000 AL; Ichiro Suzuki, 2001 AL; Shohei Ohtani, 2018 AL World Series MVP: Hideki Matsui, 2009 ALCS MVP: Koji Uehara, 2013 All-Star Game MVP: Ichiro Suzuki, 2007 Gold Glove Award: Ichiro Suzuki, 10 times, 2001–2010 AL OF Silver Slugger Award: Ichiro Suzuki, thrice, 2001,