Watch: Bald eagle lands on Mariners pitcher James Paxton — really

It’s not all that uncommon for a bald eagle to land on a big maple.

It’s a little less common for a bald eagle to land on THE Big Maple.

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But that’s what happened before the Mariners’ series opener in Minnesota against the Twins. A bald eagle apparently mistook Mariners pitcher James Paxton, AKA the Big Maple, for its handler and landed on Paxton’s shoulder during the national anthem.

Paxton took it all stride and didn’t seem the least bit rattled before making his second start of the season.

Making the moment all the more odd is that Paxton is Canadian – although it bears mentioning that Canada has bald eagles, too.

This isn’t the first time Paxton has shown a connection with our avian friends. Just watch the 2018 Mariners commercial he starred in.

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