Video: Ichiro receives standing ovation in return to Safeco Field
Apr 17, 2017, 8:36 PM
Ichiro will forever receive a standing ovation in Seattle: https://t.co/F09ne45JlB pic.twitter.com/Wq0isySt2L
— MLB (@MLB) April 18, 2017
Ichiro Suzuki will always be a fan favorite at Safeco Field.
That was put to the test on Monday night as he came to the plate as a member of the visiting Miami Marlins, and there was no question that the fans in Seattle still love the former Mariners great. The crowd at Safeco gave No. 51 a long standing ovation prior to his first at-bat, his first in Seattle since the 2014 season and first time as a Marlin.
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Ichiro grounded out during the at-bat, but he later flashed one of his trademarks: a laser for an arm, which prevented the Mariners’ Mitch Haniger from scoring from second base on a single to him in left field.
The Mariners also honored Ichiro with a pregame celebration to honor him reaching the 3,000-hit mark in the major leagues last season. They’ll give him the spotlight once more Wednesday with a giveaway of a bobblehead that features him both as a Mariner and as a Marlin.