Hawaii native Kurt Suzuki gets memorable sendoff in likely final MLB game
Oakland made it a special night Tuesday for retiring catcher Kurt Suzuki, who caught one pitch for the Los Angeles Angels before manager Phil Nevin sent him out in style.
“Framed that pitch like a champ,” Suzuki, the Baldwin High alumnus from Maui, cracked with a smile afterward.
Nevin came out to the mound and ceremoniously replaced him, allowing Suzuki to hug all his teammates then tip his cap and wave in all directions as he walked off to cheers from his former Oakland home crowd in likely his final appearance in a 16-year MLB career.
“That was a pretty special moment, walked onto the field for the last time, caught my last pitch,” Suzuki said. “Kind of crazy. It hasn’t really set in yet. … It’s just been a whirlwind few days at home then yesterday and today. It’s kind of crazy I have one more game ever to put on a uniform for anything.”
