He gestured for Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert to stand up from his catcher’s crouch, but that didn’t take any admiration away from former Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks legend Randy Johnson, who threw the first pitch of Game 3 of the ALCS on Wednesday.
Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson threw out the first pitch in Seattle today 💪 pic.twitter.com/3rTaAqm17t
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 16, 2025
The 6-foot-10 lefty, known as “the Big Unit,” spent 10 of his 22 MLB seasons with the Mariners and last pitched at home in the postseason for Seattle in Game 1 of the 1997 ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles — if this can be counted as taking the mound. Oddly enough, the performance wasn’t the Hall of Famer’s finest, having given up five earned runs and walking four in a 9-3 loss.
His 101.1 career bWAR, five Cy Youngs, four ERA crowns and 2001 World Series title with Arizona more than make up for this one blemish.
On Wednesday at T-Mobile Park, Johnson lobbed his opening toss to the awaiting glove of Gilbert and jokingly shook out his shoulder afterwards. Having thrown more than 4,100 innings, he might be deserving of a break, huh?
The positive mojo from Johnson appeared to invigorate the Seattle crowd and offense, as the Mariners, already up 2-0 in the series, pounced on the Toronto Blue Jays in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run home run by Julio Rodriguez.
However, Toronto scored eight unanswered on 10 hits through the top of the fifth, with its barrage featuring a five-run third frame. The damage ended with 18 hits and a 13-4 final.
Pitching — starting and relief — will be the focus for the 2026 Diamondbacks, as general manager Mike Hazen made abundantly clear at his end-of-season press conference.
Barring the ability to turn back the clock, a Johnson-like talent isn’t going to be a part of that roster construction.
