Ichiro Suzuki to throw first pitch on opening day for Mariners

The Mariners have confirmed that newly-elected Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki will throw the ceremonial first pitch on Mar. 27 at T-Mobile Park.

Seattle Mariners fans have plenty to look forward to this coming season after Ichiro Suzuki was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame last month, including his jersey retirement and of course actually being enshrined in Cooperstown on July 27. Now, you can add another event to the list of occasions to celebrate the legendary 10-time MLB All-Star.

As announced by the Mariners on Monday, Ichiro will throw the ceremonial first pitch on opening day this season at T-Mobile Park. This will take place on Mar. 27 prior to the game against the Athletics, which has a start time of 7:10 p.m. PT.

There is a certain poeticness to the Athletics being the opponent for Ichiro’s appearance on the mound, given that this was the team he faced in his first ever game for the Mariners, all the way back on Apr. 2, 2001. As if that wasn’t enough, the Japan superstar’s final appearance for the M’s was also versus the A’s, on Mar. 21, 2019.

Not Ichiro’s first rodeo

This won’t be the first time Ichiro throws out the ceremonial opening pitch, having previously done it on opening day at T-Mobile Park back in 2022. On that occasion Julio Rodríguez caught the pitch, with it being notable for the game against the Houston Astros also representing his home debut for the Mariners.

With that in mind, it does make you wonder who will catch Ichiro’s ceremonial pitch in this year’s home opener? We assume fellow Mariners Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martínez will be in consideration, but perhaps also manager Dan Wilson, who was the main catcher in Seattle for more than a decade.

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As noted above, there will be plenty of opportunities to celebrate Ichiro’s achievement this season at T-Mobile Park, as the first ever Japanese player to make it into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This includes jersey night on Aug. 8, Number 51 retirement ceremony night on Aug. 9 and Hall of Fame plaque day on Aug. 10. (There will also be a Ichiro Hall of Fame Funko POP! three-day giveaway between Aug. 5–7.)

We’ll admit we’re still perplexed that one voter denied the 10-time Gold Glove Award winner the chance to enter Cooperstown as the second ever unanimous selection. However, that won’t matter as the 2025 season progresses and Mariners fans celebrate one of the greatest hitters in the history of Major League baseball.

Which of the planned events to celebrate Ichiro are you going to be attending this coming season? Further, what is your favorite highlight of his time playing for the Mariners? Let us know in the comments section below.