Seattle Mariners outfielder Leonys Martin turned 29 today, so the team got him a birthday present. Did they get him a cake? A gift certificate to Starbucks? A framed picture of Ken Griffey Jr. with his hat turned backward?
No. They got him a mariachi band, of course.
Never a dull day in Peoria pic.twitter.com/MyDdwaCWid
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) March 6, 2017
Spring training seems pretty great, doesn’t it? You’re in a warm climate during the cold weather months and it’s like you’re away at camp. Only you’re away at camp for millionaires playing baseball, and one of them will get you a mariachi band to follow you around and play music while you’re warming up. That’s not a bad life.
This was supposed to end not long after the above video, but one Mariner had a different idea.
Kyle Seager volunteered to pay for an extra hour of the band. So this will continue
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) March 6, 2017
So with stretching over and perhaps batting practice taking place, the band was moved to deep center field.
The band is now in centerfield pic.twitter.com/iVndFV1Owf
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) March 6, 2017
Please let this be a trend that continues and leaks into every sport. This is a great side effect to the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series after Joe Maddon let hijinks take place during spring training last year. If the Mariners win a World Series, the sky is the limit for these sorts of shenanigans.
Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times is all over this breaking news story, so follow along for mariachi band updates.
