"This is something I've looked forward to for a long time," Wakamatsu said in a statement. "It is a tremendous opportunity and I can't wait to get going with Jack and his group as we start working on the 2009 team."

A former catcher, Wakamatsu spent almost his entire playing career in the minors, except for 18 games with the Chicago White Sox in 1991. His final season in the minors was in 1996 as player-coach of the Mariners' Double-A Port City farm team.

He managed four seasons in the minors but never higher than Double-A before joining the Rangers' bench in 2003.

Wakamatsu, who was born in Hood River, Ore., says he knows only a little Japanese — always a consideration in Seattle, where All-Star Ichiro Suzuki is the franchise cornerstone — though it has improved recently with the A's and Rangers.

He also understands management doesn't expect this to be a long-term rebuilding project.

"In general, it's a young team that maybe with some prodding we can win right away," Wakamatsu said last week.

Seattle Mariners News News » M's Wakamatsu is first Asian-American MLB skip
M's Wakamatsu is first Asian-American MLB skip
SEATTLE (AP) - Don Wakamatsu became the first Asian-American manager in major league baseball history when he was hired Wednesday by the Seattle Mariners. Rosenthal's take