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Ichiro Suzuki, one of the greatest players in Seattle Mariners history, was honored this week with a bronze statue outside the team’s home field.
But Friday’s unveiling went sideways, with some fans suggesting the Mariners struck out. Moments after the curtain fell to reveal the massive statue modeled after Suzuki’s signature batting stance, the bat the Baseball Hall of Famer was holding snapped and tipped backward.
The bat, originally standing upright, appeared to catch the curtain and snapped as it was pulled away for the reveal.
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The bat on the Ichiro Suzuki statue was broken during the unveiling ceremony before the game against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on April 10, 2026. (Jack Compton/Getty Images)
Despite the hiccups, Suzuki and other sailors saw Ken Griffey Jr. out to laugh at it. The Navy quickly leaned into the moment and responded with humor.
Ichiro Suzuki, Edgar Martinez and Ken Griffey Jr. laughs after the bat for the Ichiro Suzuki statue broke during the unveiling before the game against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington on April 10, 2026. (Jack Compton/Getty Images)
After handing out replica statues to the first 40,000 fans who walked through the turnstiles on Friday, the Mariners posted a photo on X of the giveaway — now with a broken bat.
{insert Mariners tweet here: https://x.com/Mariners/status/2042690565746376905}
MLB announced in January 2025 that Suzuki would get a statue honoring his famous batting stance.
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Last July, he became the fourth player to have his number retired by the Mariners and inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also honored in the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2022.
Suzuki is just the fourth player in Mariners history to have his number retired and the first Japanese-born inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He has also been a member of the Mariners Hall of Fame since 2022.
Ichiro Suzuki answers questions from the media following the unveiling of his statue before the game against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on April 10, 2026. (Jack Compton/Getty Images)
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He was named American League MVP in 2001 and is a ten-time All-Star. Suzuki made his MLB debut with the Mariners in 2001 before later having stints with the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins before closing out his career in Seattle for a second stint with the team.
