SEATTLE -- He has a fiery edge on the mound, and why wouldn’t he? Yusei Kikuchi has been a huge catalyst in why the Mariners are five games above .500 heading into the All-Star break.

The Japanese left-hander has earned the national recognition for what he’s doing on the mound, but outside the Mariners’ clubhouse, many wonder: Who is Kikuchi the person, a three-time All-Star in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball? What does he do for fun? What inspires him?

• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: Tuesday on FOX

In short: Kikuchi is loyal teammate with a soft spot, one who is constantly curious about American culture and who values family above all. And while those attributes have been instilled within the left-hander since he signed with Seattle in January 2019, they have become far more enhanced in his short career stateside.

Kikuchi lost his father and became one in the span of weeks during his rookie season, creating a smorgasbord of emotion spanning love and pain. That year, in which he went 6-11 with a 5.46 ERA and looked regularly overwhelmed, shifted his perspective and pushed him to channel his focus even more towards his wife and newborn son. In no way did it detract from his work ethic -- praised by his teammates as the most tireless on the Mariners’ pitching staff -- but it helped him slow things down.

• FAQ: All-Star roster rules

Pitching with results certainly helps -- a 3.48 ERA, 119 ERA+, 25% strikeout rate and throwing into the seventh inning seven times -- but Kikuchi goes home every night to his smiling boy, and taking in the scenes Seattle, a city that has slowly re-opened and emerged to a semblance of normalcy amid the pandemic.

“We really like it here in Seattle, just enjoying the outdoors,” Kikuchi said through interpreter Kevin Ando. “The other day, we just went to the zoo and had a great time there. We’re just enjoying the outdoors of the city.”

Kikuchi can’t stop talking about fatherhood, and it’s rubbed off on his teammates. After Marco Gonzales and his wife welcomed their first child earlier this month, Kikcuhi and his wife gifted the new parents multiple gameday onesies.

Gonzales, who also has an incredibly emotional side on and off the mound, viewed it as far more than a goodwill gesture of a teammate.

“He said how quick the time goes and to be present and to hold your little one when they're newborn because it really slips by fast,” Gonzales said. “He's got a soft heart. And his character, his personality, it is heartfelt and sincere.”

So is his commitment to pitching in the big leagues and adapting to the culture that comes with it. Kikuchi’s English, which was already strong, is even better than when he signed a four-year deal with the Mariners, which he faces a decision on this offseason with a $13 million player option. That option can potentially be replaced by an additional four-year, $66 million extension that would convert the deal to seven years total.

In his spare time, especially on the road, Kikuchi is a fervent reader. And the topics are mostly on American success, having recently read biographies on Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. Put simply, he not only wants to fit in, but he also wants to thrive.

“I love reading,” Kikuchi said. “And basically, I like to learn the American culture. … And the number one thing is to just study English, just learning the language.”

Except for during bullpen sessions. English takes a backseat when Kikuchi is throwing and observing his teammates in those competitive moments. But there is a lighter side. Gonzales said that Kikuchi has adopted the phrase, “Savage,” when executing a quality pitch.

“We just wanted him to believe how good this stuff was, and for him to go and pitch like in have the confidence,” Gonzales said. “And now, on a daily basis, three, four times, he's looking at me saying, ‘Savage. Savage.’ And so that goes back to him just believe in himself.”

But that’s not all.

During one session earlier this season, Kikuchi let loose with a few Japanese phrases that have since caught on. Some may be NSFW, and when asked about it -- in English, without needing a translator -- Kikuchi threw his head back, spread a massive grin and unloaded a hearty laugh.

“It's really fun on the guys,” Kikuchi said. “They're always asking me about new Japanese words that we most likely aren't able to say here. But yeah, it's a great time. We like to have fun.”

The numbers are the large reason why the 30-year-old left-hander was selected to his first All-Star Game, and those have been propelled by his pure stuff, which has seen a significant uptick in 2021. Yet more than anything, Kikuchi is more comfortable than he’s ever been pitching stateside. And that’s why he’s headed to the Midsummer Classic.