Emily Klesick details her first experience at Mariners Opening Day, with every bit of the emotion and anticipation this upcoming season offers.
On March 26th, I got to experience something I never had before.
I attended my first Mariners’ Opening Day!
Now I know what you’re thinking: what kind of M’s writer has never been to an opening day game before? I don’t blame you for asking; I’ve wondered that also. But alas, the stars aligned this year, and I was able to be in the ballpark for 2026’s inaugural game.
It’s hard to describe the level of anticipation leading into this game, and the season in general. As I rode the Link Light Rail south to the ballpark, I chatted with dozens of fans about their expectations. I would describe the mood around these conversations as cautiously hopeful: it’s hard to feel fully optimistic about this team, but we’re as close to that as we’ve ever been. Topics ranged from the addition of Brendan Donovan, what we should expect from Cal Raleigh after a historic season, if this will be Julio’s best season yet, and whether or not our rotation guys will have bounce back years.
Walking into T-Mobile Park was a surreal moment. While I didn’t make it to any of the postseason games last year, I was there for two of the games against the Rockies in September when we clinched the postseason and the AL West. It was almost as if I’d never left. Walking into an early spring game that felt so abuzz was something I’d yet to experience. The promise of a new season is always tantalizing for fans, but with last year’s playoff run and this year’s high hopes, it arrived with a great deal more weight.
As I watched the unveiling of the 2025 American League West championship banner, I marveled at the fact that I was present for the moment that reality was set in stone. Even looking back now, I wonder who was sitting in my seat in 2002 to see the unveiling of the banner that represents the M’s historic 116-win season in 2001. Were they in the park when the M’s clinched their title on September 19th as Mike Cameron and Mark McLemore carried the American flag around the field to honor the lives lost on 9/11? I’ll never know, but I can’t help but wonder. How can you not be romantic about baseball?
Unfortunately, this Opening Day’s score did not end in the M’s favor. However, the excitement throughout the night was palpable. In his first regular season at-bat with the Mariners, Brendan Donovan golfed a home run over the right field fence, further proving the value of his acquisition. As the evening progressed, Dom Canzone hit not one, but two home runs to right center field, as M’s fans demonstrated Italian hands around the park in unison. As part of the four home run night, Luke Raley also hit one out, scalding a ball just barely over the wall. And while the M’s were ultimately bested by the Guardians with a score of 6-4, largely in part because of a banner showing by Cleveland’s top prospect Chase DeLauter who made T-Mobile park his personal home run derby venue, there were so many positives from the game that no one seemed too bothered by the loss.
It’s obviously been some time since this game. As it stands, the Mariners wrapped up their first homestand and took a win in their first game on the road in Anaheim. They are sporting an even record of 4-4 after splitting the series with Cleveland and dropping 2 out of 3 against the Yankees before tonight’s W against the Angels. And while it’s tempting for me to delve into all the details of these first eight games and the contributing factors (or lack thereof), I think I’m going to leave that for others to talk about.
Because, if I’m being honest, I want to remain in the luster of that first game for a moment longer.
I want to remember what it felt like to walk the concourse, see my friends for the first time of the season, bask in the glow of excitement and optimism, fully believing that this is the year our team goes all the way.
No matter what happens for the rest of the year, that’s a moment that no one can take away from us.
