Seattle Mariners honor legends with opening day's 1st pitch

The first player in Seattle Mariners history received the honor of kicking off the franchise’s 50th season.

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Ruppert Jones, the Mariners’ first pick in the 1976 expansion draft, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to former Mariners first baseman David Segui on opening day at T-Mobile Park before Seattle took on the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday night.

Ruppert Jones, the first-ever Mariner, throws out the first pitch to David Segui. pic.twitter.com/AePzSx8guS

— Zac Hereth (@ZacHereth) March 27, 2026

Segui being on the receiving end was another nod to the Mariners’ past. Segui’s dad, Diego Segui, started the first-ever game in Mariners history back in 1977 and also pitched for the short-lived Seattle Pilots in 1969. He’s the only player to play for both teams, and he pitched in the inaugural game for both. Diego Segui died last June at the age of 87.

Jones spent three seasons with the M’s from 1977-79, earning the first All-Star nod in team history in 1977. The center fielder hit .263 with a .778 OPS and career-high 24 homers during his All-Star season in Seattle.

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Diego Segui was one of the few bright spots on the Pilots, who left Seattle to become the Milwaukee Brewers after one season. He went 12-6 with a 3.35 ERA over 142 1/3 innings in 66 games (eight starts) for the Pilots in 1969. He appeared in 40 games and made seven starts while posting an 0-7 record with the Mariners in 1977, the final year of his 15-year career.

David Segui played for the Mariners in 1998 and part of the 1999 season. He posted a career-high 3.2 bWAR in 1998 while hitting .305 with an .886 OPS, 19 homers and 36 doubles.

Radio coverage of the season opener between the Mariners and Guardians can be heard on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports app.

Seattle Mariners honor legends with opening day’s 1st pitch

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