Ichiro Suzuki to throw first pitch at Mariners' Opening Day

Ichiro to throw first pitch on Mariners' Opening Day

Newly elected Baseball Hall of Fame member Ichiro Suzuki will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day.

SEATTLE - Newly elected Baseball Hall of Fame member Ichiro Suzuki will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day for the Seattle Mariners against the Sacramento Athletics on March 27.

Mariners play-by-play voice Rick Rizzs made the announcement during an appearance on FOX 13’s Good Day Seattle on Monday morning.

The backstory:

Ichiro became the first Japanese player to be selected to the Hall of Fame, falling just one vote shy of becoming the second unanimously selected player ever behind Mariano Rivera. Suzuki will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. on Sunday, July 27, and the Mariners will retire his No. 51 during a ceremony ahead of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, August 9.

The Athletics were the opponent for both Ichiro’s debut with the Mariners in 2001, and for the final game of his career in Tokyo in 2019. Seattle opens the year with a seven-game homestand, with four against the A’s, and three against the Detroit Tigers.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 15: Ichiro Suzuki throws out the ceremonial first pitch during the Seattle Mariners’ home opener against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on Friday, April 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. Ichiro will be inducted into th (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

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It will be the second time that Ichiro has thrown out the first pitch on Opening Day. Julio Rodríguez caught the pitch from Suzuki ahead of his home debut with the team.

The Mariners previously announced that Ichiro Hall of Fame Weekend is set to take place at T-Mobile Park this summer, which includes Ichiro Hall of Fame Funko POP! 3-day Giveaway (Aug. 5-7), Ichiro Jersey Night (Aug. 8), Ichiro Number 51 Retirement Ceremony Night (Aug. 9) and Ichiro Hall of Fame Plaque Day (Aug. 10).

The Source: Announcement from Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs on FOX 13's Good Day Seattle