The chant “Let’s go Mariners!” echoed throughout T-Mobile Park on a typical cold and cloudy day in Seattle. Fans piled into the grandstands and the scent of garlic fries lingered throughout the stadium. After two ceremonial first pitches, one from the family of the late Rickey Henderson and the other from Mariners legend, Ichiro Suzuki, as well as the “play ball” call coming from youth baseball and softball players from across the state, Mariners baseball was officially back.  

The Mariners ended the 2024 season just missing out on the playoffs for the second year in a row. The ending of last season, as well as a slow offseason with little to no big moves by the ball club, left fans in Seattle disappointed in the organization and caused them to question whether the Mariners ownership was making the right decisions for the club.  

But despite fans questioning the ownership and last season ending in a disappointing fashion, that didn’t stop Mariners fans from all over Washington from packing into T-Mobile Park for Opening Day versus the now mononymous Athletics.  

“We always try to be optimistic for the next year,” lifelong Mariners fan Blake Dompier said.  

Logan Gilbert was named the Opening Day starter. The righty was one of only two Mariners to represent the team in the 2024 All-Star game and ranked in the top 10 in the MLB’s starting pitcher power rankings. Last season, Gilbert posted an ERA of 3.28 with an opponent batting average of just .196 and recording 220 strikeouts. With statistics like this, there was no doubt about who would be starting on the bump for the Mariners this Opening Day.  

It was a pitching duel throughout the entire game, with the first run score not coming until the top of the fifth inning. Athletics first baseman, Tyler Soderstrom, homered to dead centerfield, putting the Athletics up 0-1. The Mariners would answer back in the bottom of the seventh after the M’s shortstop JP Crawford tagged up on a fly ball hit to deep centerfield by left fielder Victor Robles, tying the game at 1-1. Soderstrom would get back up in the top of the eighth and blast yet another solo home run, once again giving the Athletics the lead 2-1.  

The Mariners wouldn’t let the Athletics keep the lead for long, with the M’s offense coming alive in the bottom of the eighth, putting up three runs. Seattle’s offensive birth began with right fielder Randy Arozarena putting a good swing on one and driving a solo home run to left field, tying the game for the Mariners. Infielder Luke Raley would get on via walk, then veteran infielder Jorge Polanco came up to bat and blasted a two-run big fly to dead center, securing the lead for the home team, 4-2. Mariners flame thrower Andres Muñoz came in to close out the game and he did just that. After walking the Athletics’ right fielder Lawrence Butler, Muñoz punched out left fielder Brent Rooker. With one out and a runner on first, Athletics centerfielder JJ Bleday hit a ground ball to Crawford at SS, with Crawford proceeding to turn a double play, ending the game and securing the first win of the season for the Mariners with a score of 4-2.   

It has officially been three weeks since the Major League Baseball season began, and the Mariners are off to a mid-tier start. After defeating the Athletics on Opening Day, the Mariners have been hovering just under or at .500. At the time of writing, the team’s record sits at 9-9. Despite not having the hottest start of the season, the M’s have shown glimpses of how strong of a ball club they can be. The team pulled off their first series sweep of the year after taking down a strong Texas Rangers ball club in a three-game series with scores of 5-3, 9-2 and 3-1, respectively.  

Although it is early in the season, Mariners fans seem to have one goal in mind:  the playoffs. Jackson Chilcott and Ryan Petitt are lifelong Mariners fans.  

“I’m thinking about playoffs, we have to get there,” Chilcott said, with Petitt commenting, “Yeah a league average offense, which should lead to a playoff run.” 

The Mariners are currently on the road, but the team makes their way back home April 25 to take on the Miami Marlins for a three-game series.