Erik Goeddel learned he was to be called up to the Seattle Mariners, but not whose spot he’d replace until he looked at his phone. He’d received a text from his father.
The roster spot opened because future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki was removed to transition him into an advisory role and a member of the front office.
“My dad noticed it before I did,” Goeddel said. “He was like, ‘Did you know about this?’ And I was just like, ‘No, that’s wild.’
“Kind of wild and kind of a humbling thing. It’s exciting, obviously, getting the chance, but at the same time I walk in and it’s Ichiro’s last day and here he is addressing the team about it.