Ichiro Suzuki, whose 4,367 career hits are the most in major league baseball (lower case, was among the four new candidates named Tuesday to the players division ballot for the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame’s class of 2025.

Unlike America’s National Hall of Fame, Japan’s vote is open to all journalists who have covered NPB for accredited media for 15 years or more, and because of that large number, it seems unlikely that even Suzuki will be a unanimous selection.

Japan’s voters favor players with exceptional careers, of course, but they have also shown a soft spot for the less than stellar provided they are extremely popular with the press, while denying worthy candidates if they ever had issues with the media.

That, and a shortage of outstanding fielders at demanding defensive positions, explains the popularity of former Giants shortstop Masahiro Kawai, who 221 of last year’s 354 voters believe is a hall of famer.