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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 ballpark.
But Friday’s reveal went sideways, with some fans suggesting the Mariners backed out. Moments after the curtain fell to reveal the massive statue modeled after Suzuki’s iconic batting stance, the bat the Baseball Hall of Famer was holding broke and tilted backwards.
The bat, initially standing, appeared to cling to the curtain, snapping as it was pulled back for the reveal.
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The bat of 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 hiccup, Suzuki and Mariners great Ken Griffey Jr. seemed to laugh about it. The Mariners quickly addressed the moment, responding with humor.
Ichiro Suzuki, Edgar Martinez and Ken Griffey Jr. laugh after the bat of the Ichiro Suzuki statue breaks during its unveiling before the game against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, April 10, 2026. (Jack Compton/Getty Images)
After handing out replica statues to the first 40,000 fans who passed through the turnstiles Friday, the Mariners posted a photo on X of the gift — now with a broken bat.
{insert Mariners tweet here: https://x.com/Mariners/status/2042690565746376905}
MLB announced in January 2025 that Suzuki would receive a statue honoring his famous batting stance.
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In July of last year, he became the fourth player to have his number retired by the Mariners and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also honored in the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2022.
Suzuki is only the fourth player in Mariners history to have his number retired and the first born in Japan to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He is also 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 a ten-time All-Star. Suzuki made his MLB debut with the Mariners in 2001 before later stints with the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins, then finishing his career in Seattle for a second stint with the team.
