Seattle Mariners left fielder Ichiro Suzuki will be in the starting lineup for Thursday's home opener against the Cleveland Indians, the team announced.

Ichiro was troubled by a sore calf for most of the spring. He went 0-for-10 in 5 games played, with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks, and there had been questions about whether he would be healthy enough to join the team for Opening Day.

"Obviously being out there on the field is one thing, but just driving from my house to the stadium, just the views that I remember,'' Suzuki said through an interpreter. "Just an awesome thing that I'm here. I'm just so happy.''

Ichiro, 44, spent the first 11 of his 18 major league seasons with Seattle, earning 2001 AL Rookie of the Year and MVP, winning a pair of batting titles and becoming a 10-time All-Star. The Mariners signed Ichiro to a one-year, $750,000 contract on March 7.

"It was a crazy spring for him getting in late and having a little setback with the calf injury but I think he showed us enough here the last couple of days that he can get out there, run around and help us out a little bit,'' Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "As I said when we brought him in he'll hit at the bottom of the lineup, he'll help in a number of different ways. But obviously he'll be in the lineup tomorrow night.''

He played with the Miami Marlins last season, hitting .255 with 3 home runs and 20 RBIs in 196 at-bats.

"When I got hurt, the whole plan was just to be ready for opening day. I feel that I barely snuck in here,'' Suzuki said through an interpreter. "It was a close one but I'm glad I was able to get to this point and be ready.''

Seattle optioned Taylor Motter to Triple-A Tacoma to clear the roster spot for Suzuki.

Suzuki, who will bat ninth, has a lifetime batting average of .500 (2-for-4) against Indians starter Corey Kluber. Felix Hernandez will start for the Mariners.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.