Seattle Mariners

Jesus Montero -- an ex-Major League Baseball player with the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees -- has died ... according to tribute post from the Yankees.

The team shared a photo of Montero to X Sunday morning ... writing, "The Yankees are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jesús Montero. We send our sincerest condolences to his family & loved ones."

The Seattle Times -- citing Venezuelan outlets -- reported earlier this month that Montero was driving a motorcycle in his home country when he was hit by a pickup truck. He was rushed to a hospital in the city of Valencia. Newsweek reported he was intubated at the hospital.

Mariners fans could have a whole new way to show support for Cal Raleigh soon ... as a porn site tells TMZ Sports it's aiming to give away butt plugs to Seattle fans at Wednesday's ALCS Game 3 in honor of the star catcher.

A spokesperson for CamSoda says as Raleigh and his famous nickname -- the "Big Dumper" -- keep shining in the postseason, it wants to capitalize on the craze by doling out sex toys ahead of the Ms' huge tilt with the Blue Jays.

The site tells us if Seattle officials allow it, it's looking to pass around thousands of CamSoda-branded butt plugs at T-Mobile Park just before first pitch.

Turns out, the story of Cal Raleigh's 60th home run ball has a happy ending for all involved parties.

The Mariners revealed on X they invited the man who initially caught the souvenir to T-Mobile Park on Thursday evening in order to thank him for the way he unselfishly gave up the memento to a kid.

Raleigh ended up having an on-field meet and greet with the guy -- who MLB.com says is Glenn Mutti-Driscoll, a licensed hydrogeologist -- and during their chat, the Seattle star actually gifted him a signed bat.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles has learned his fate after hurling a bat at a pitcher in retaliation for getting hit by a pitch during a minor league rehab assignment on Sunday ... with Major League Baseball handing him a 10-game ban.

The league revealed the news Tuesday ... saying along with his suspension, he has been tagged with an undisclosed fine. The kicker for Robles is that the clock doesn't start until he is back on the Major League Active Roster. In other words -- the moment he returns to Seattle, the suspension officially takes effect.

Robles has elected to appeal the ruling, and he will be eligible to play until that process concludes.

An all-out brawl nearly erupted during the Astros vs. Mariners tilt on Wednesday night ... and according to one Seattle player, it all started 'cause Houston pitcher Hector Neris called Julio Rodriguez a homophobic slur.

The near-dust-up on the diamond went down in the sixth inning of the Astros' pivotal game with the Mariners at T-Mobile Park ... after Neris struck out Rodriguez with a breaking ball.

The reliever was so pumped to get the Seattle superstar out, he charged at him ... and, according to Seattle Times reporter Adam Jude, Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez said Neris screamed an anti-gay term at Rodriguez -- causing the benches to clear.

"He started talking bad words in Spanish," Suarez said, according to Jude. "He started doing something that is not good for people who speak Spanish and understand. I was in the on-deck circle and I heard that. That pissed me off."

Players from both sides ran onto the field to protect their guys ... though, thankfully, no punches were thrown and cooler heads ultimately prevailed.

Neris downplayed it all after the game ... telling reporters, "He's my friend." Rodriguez was not available for comment. The MLB, meanwhile, has yet to address Suarez's allegations.

Zach LaVine's been at the center of near-constant trade speculation -- the Bulls star took out some of that frustration during a star-studded celebrity softball game, smashing a monster home run!

He flashed some leather, too ... robbing an HR in left field!

It all happened at MLB's 2023 All-Star Celebrity Softball Game in Seattle -- the site of the All-Star Game this weekend -- featuring stars like Joel McHale, Chloe Kim, Donovan Mitchell, Jennie Finch, Felix Hernandez, and Ryan Howard, amongst many more.

In the third inning, with Mariners legend Brett Boone on the mound, LaVine, a lefty, stepped to the plate and absolutely put a charge into one, hitting a bomb over the right-field softball fence.

Zach immediately knew the ball was gone ... he stood at the plate admiring his work, before tossing the bat, and beginning his home run trot.

Of course, softball fences are pushed in because the bigger ball's difficult to hit far. But, Zach hit the ball so hard, he nearly cleared the right field wall at T-Mobile Park.

Later in the game, LaVine showed he's more than just a bat.

Former Mariners star Mike Cameron was at the plate, and he drove a ball to deep left-center. Zach tracked the ball, and using every bit of his 6'5" frame, arm extended, caught it (sending center fielder Howie Mandel to the ground), robbing the home run.

LaVine wasn't the only NBA player showing out ... Cavs star Donovan Mitchell also hit a HR.

Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was so moved after seeing a classroom full of elementary school students lose it after he smashed a playoff home run, the big leaguer went to the classroom and hung out with the kids!

25-year-old Raleigh visited Cascade View Elementary School in Snoqualmie, WA, where he spent time with a group of fifth-graders who recently went viral for their reaction to Raleigh's dinger.

Mr. Rooney, a teacher at Cascade, posted video of his students going nuts after Raleigh blasted a homer in the wild card round of the playoffs against the Blue Jays.

And, the kids had reason to cheer. Raleigh's two-run blast in the first inning off Jays' ace Alek Manoah propelled Seattle to a 4-0 victory that day.

Seattle ended up sending the Jays home, but then lost to the Houston Astros in the ALDS.

Little did Rooney know ... Cal got wind of the video, and decided to show his appreciation for the youngsters by spending quality time with them.

Raleigh -- who hit 27 home runs in his second season with the Mariners -- posed for pics with the kids, who were all smiles throughout the day, and he even answered questions, too.

Dr. Anthony Fauci's no longer havin' trouble with the curve -- 'cause after he epically botched his first pitch effort in D.C. in 2020, he was able to redeem himself with a respectable toss at the Mariners game on Tuesday night.

Fauci took the bump just before the M's played against his childhood favorite Yankees in Seattle -- and while he didn't exactly look like Gerrit Cole out there, the pitch was MUCH better than his first go-around two years ago.

You'll recall, at that Yanks vs. Nationals game in Washington, Fauci threw a ball so poorly, it landed some 10-15 feet away from home plate. The COVID-19 expert was dragged for the throw, with social distancing jokes continuously flying following the terrible heave.

But, Fauci has clearly worked on his arm since -- and was nearly able to throw a lollipop strike to Mariners manager Scott Servais at T-Mobile Park.

Fauci gave a fist pump following the toss -- and Servais was stoked for him, congratulating him, and then getting him to sign his mask!

As for how the doc was received at the game ... there was a smattering of boos from the crowd, but overall, it seemed to be a pleasant evening for Fauci -- who got to see the home team win a 1-0, 13-inning thriller.

A whopping 12 players and coaches have been suspended for their roles in the massive brawl at the Angels vs. Mariners game on Sunday ... with L.A.'s manager, Phil Nevin, getting a staggering 10-game ban.

The MLB announced the punishments late Monday evening ... just over 24 hours after the two teams fought each other on the diamond following what appeared to be an intentional hit by a pitch in L.A. on Sunday.

Angels pitcher Andrew Wantz was banned for three games for throwing at Jesse Winker. Winker, meanwhile, was hit with a 7-game suspension for his role in igniting the skirmish after wearing the fastball.

L.A. third baseman Anthony Rendon, who's out for the season after having wrist surgery, received a 5-game ban for leaving the team's bench while on the injured list and taking a swipe at Winker.

Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford got five games for throwing punches, while Angels closer Raisel Iglesias was hit with a two-game ban for throwing sunflower seeds and more onto the field.

Others punished, according to the MLB, included Angels assistant pitching coach Dom Chiti, Mariners OF Julio Rodriguez, Angels pitcher Ryan Tepera, Angels bench coach Ray Montgomery, Angels' interpreter Manny Del Campo and Angels catching coach Bill Haselman.

The punishments were slated to begin Monday night, though most of the players have chosen to appeal.

Longtime Seattle Mariners second baseman Julio Cruz -- who worked as a broadcaster for the team following his playing days -- died on Tuesday, his family announced.

He was 67 years old.

No cause of death was revealed ... but Cruz's family said in a statement he "passed away peacefully."

"At the time of his passing, he was at home, and was surrounded by his loving family," the Cruz family said in a statement.

"Our family is grateful for your well wishes and support, and we ask for privacy at this time."

Cruz played for the Mariners in their first-ever season in 1977 ... and went on to log time with the team until 1983. He later played for the Chicago White Sox, before he left the game following the 1986 season.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with his loved ones," the Mariners said in a statement Wednesday, "including his wife, Mojgan, three sons, Austin, Alexander and Jourdan, and their families."

In 2003, he began his role as a part of the Mariners' Spanish-language broadcasts, and he worked there until his death.

Cruz finished his career with a .237 batting average and 343 stolen bases.

A fan at a Seattle Mariners game left the ballpark this weekend with a gnarly gash on his forehead ... after he took two HUGE punches to the face during a fight in the stands.

The wild scene was all captured on video during the Mariners' game Friday night against the Oakland A's ... when two fans got into an argument that turned violent.

In the footage, you can see the two were quarreling ... when the man in a Mariners jersey suddenly unloaded a massive right to the other guy's face.

The force of the blow was so vicious, it knocked off the guy's hat and sunglasses.

The fighting, though, didn't stop there ... 'cause just a few seconds later, the same man unloaded a second right that connected flush with the other guy's face again.

Somehow, the dude was not knocked down nor knocked out ... though he posted on social media Saturday revealing the two punches left him with a bloody wound above his eye.

Fortunately, he didn't seem to have too serious of injuries ... saying on his Twitter page, "I’m fine btw! Ate them up."

We've reached out to law enforcement to see if any arrests were made, but so far, no word back yet.

Incredible moment in Seattle on Thursday night ... after Felix Hernandez threw his likely last pitch ever for the Mariners -- he and his teammates cried their eyes out!!

The scene was surreal ... King Felix -- who's been a LEGEND for the Mariners for the last 15 years -- was pitching in what many believe is his final game in a Seattle uni.

He threw well ... but in the fifth inning after getting Robbie Grossman to line out -- the Mariners pulled him from the game.

What happened next was spine tingling -- 'cause Felix and his teammates began to cry on the mound ... and the crowd went CRAZY!!!

Felix had to wipe away tears ... and before he headed into the clubhouse, he took off his hat to salute all the fans in attendance.

"I was walking to the bullpen and my eyes started to [get] wet and I was like, 'Not right now.' It's hard to do it," Hernandez told reporters after the game.

"There were a lot of emotions out there. I've been here for 15 years, and there is a lot of stuff going on."

Felix compiled 169 career wins for the Mariners in his time in Seattle, and also won the 2010 AL Cy Young Award ... but most believe the team won't bring him back next season.

The Edwin Encarnacion trade was a STEAL for the Yankees ... so says NY legend Tino Martinez, who tells TMZ Sports, "It's a great move!"

"He's a home run hitter," Tino says ... "He's the best!"

Encarnacion was just traded from the Mariners to the Yankees in a move that only cost the Bronx Bombers a low-level prospect and some cash.

And, Tino -- who was also famously dealt from the Mariners to the Yankees before NY's 1996 World Series-winning season -- is fired up for the move.

As for Clint Frazier -- the stud outfielder who was demoted back to the minors in order to make room for Edwin -- Martinez says he's confident the 24-year-old will be just fine.

"Clint Frazier is an awesome player, man," Tino says ... "He'll be back!"

Here's an insanely human moment from a dude who's about to become a god ... MLB great Edgar Martinez says he's been thinking about his HOF speech, and he's freakin' nervous.

Martinez was a 7-time All-Star, a 2-time batting champ (he had 2,247 hits and 309 HR's), and never saw a pitch he feared during his career, but when we got him out in NYC he admitted he's shook when it comes to public speaking.

"For some reason, public speaking is not that easy. It's not something you do constantly every day."

Edgar says the dread hasn't quite set in yet but told our guy the fear gets a little more real the closer he gets to Hall of Fame induction day next month.

We gotta say ... EM talked with our guy for a while and did a fantastic job -- and seeing as our cameras reach millions of people, this was really kinda like a dry run that he nailed.

Induction day is July 21 ... which is right around the corner, Edgar. We know you got this.

Nelson Cruz is officially a United States citizen ... and he's already itchin' to hit the voting booths!!

The Seattle Mariners superstar announced the big news by posing with his new American flag on Instagram Monday morning ... saying "Mission accomplished. Next stop: Registering to vote."

The 38-year-old grew up in the Dominican Republic, and has been playing in the MLB since 2005.

U.S. citizenship is becoming a trend with the Mariners -- Cruz's teammate Felix Hernandez (from Venezuela) just got his citizenship last month and was stoked about it!

"It means a lot,” Hernandez told the Seattle Times ... "Now, I am proud to be an American. Just happy, and so proud to be an American."

BONUS -- check out Cruz's stars and stripes kicks ... talk about swaggy AND patriotic.