The Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki won the American League Player of the Week award Monday, and he’ll get a new watch in recognition of the honor.

Like he needs it.

“I collect watches, but something tells me the watch I’m going to get is not going to be my taste,” Suzuki said.

This one will be a Tourneau Swiss watch.

What matters more to Suzuki is that he is hitting the ball well and the Mariners are scoring runs, especially early in games.

Suzuki batted .440 last week and led the league with nine runs scored. He batted .371 in May and entered Monday’s game with a .339 average, fifth best in the league.

He has been a big factor in the Mariners’ first-inning success the past two weeks. Entering Monday, the M’s had scored 15 first-inning runs in 13 games after scoring 11 in the first inning of the previous 45 games.

It’s an encouraging trend.

“When you’re losing, you really want to get a lead,” Suzuki said. “When you’re winning, you can (have confidence) that you can come back and get them. But now, we want to get ahead first. That’s basic baseball.”

Suzuki is the second Mariner to win the weekly award this year – pitcher Joel Pineiro won it early last month – and it’s the second time Suzuki has won it in his career.

“I really didn’t know such an award existed,” said Suzuki, who was reminded that he also won it in 2004.

“Who did we play last week?” he asked. “During the season, I’m always thinking ahead. When the season is over, that’s my reflecting time.”

And, of course, time to deal with his collection of watches.

Suzuki wouldn’t talk about his favorite watch – “That’s something personal,” he said – but he says they reflect his own taste. He doesn’t have a Rolex or a Mickey Mouse watch.

“I study them carefully before I get one,” he said. “I get bored of them really easy. That’s why I research them so much and get one that I really like.”

Draft uncertainty: Baseball’s amateur draft begins at 10 a.m. today and the Mariners, who have the fifth pick in the first round, still weren’t sure who they would select as of late Monday afternoon.

The Royals, who have the first pick, hadn’t revealed who they would select, leaving teams behind them to formulate numerous fallback scenarios.

Last year, the Mariners had the third pick and, with the Diamondbacks and Rockies having decided days in advance who they would select, the M’s knew well ahead of time that they would take catcher Jeff Clement.

The Mariners’ priority – and the strength in the draft pool this year – is pitching.

Of note: Sunday’s game against the Angels has been added to the Mariners’ TV schedule. Fox Sports Net will televise the game, beginning at 12:35 p.m. … Jamie Moyer’s annual benefit bowling and billiards tournament Sunday at Brunswick Majestic Lanes in Lynnwood raised more than $225,000 for the Moyer Foundation. … Left fielder Raul Ibanez, who missed Sunday’s game because of flu symptoms, returned to the lineup Monday. He had played in 243 consecutive games going back to the 2004 season.

Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer