Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki was honored with a bronze statue outside the team's home ballpark. However, the unveiling ceremony on Friday experienced an unexpected setback.
Moments after the curtain dropped to reveal the statue, modeled after Suzuki's signature batting stance, the bat he was holding snapped and tilted backward. Reports suggest the bat caught on the curtain as it was pulled away.
The bat on the Ichiro Suzuki statue broke during the unveiling ceremony before the game against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on April 10, 2026.
Despite the mishap, Suzuki and fellow Mariners great Ken Griffey Jr. appeared to take the incident in stride, with the Mariners organization humorously acknowledging the moment on social media.
Ichiro Suzuki, Edgar Martinez and Ken Griffey Jr. laugh after the bat of the Ichiro Suzuki statue broke during its unveiling before the game against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, on April 10, 2026.
Ichiro Suzuki answers questions from the media after the unveiling of his statue before the game against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on April 10, 2026.