‘They love the little guy’: Mariners adopt new clubhouse dog

Make room for the most recent addition to the Seattle Mariners’ roster, Tucker. On Saturday, the workforce introduced he’s the brand new clubhouse canine and might be an everyday attendant for the workforce’s dwelling video games and occasional street video games, based on MLB.com.

Seattle adopted the 4-year-old Labrador retriever combine from OkanDogs Canine Rescue, situated in Cashmere, Washington. The group referred to as the Mariners earlier in the summertime when Tucker arrived at its rescue heart. However earlier than changing into an official workforce member, Tucker needed to endure an in-depth scouting course of from workforce personnel.

As soon as Tucker made it by means of the process, Jack Mosimann, Mariners director of main league operations, made the 2½-hour automotive journey to accumulate the free agent.

“We ran folks in there, and we cross-checked them. Jack ran in there. We acquired big-time numbers on this canine. So he went excessive within the draft. We’re glad to have him as a free agent addition to our membership,” Mariners supervisor Scott Servais informed MLB.com.

Servais and his spouse, Jill, volunteered for OkanDogs earlier than the workforce adopted Tucker. They’ve been individuals in animal activism for greater than 30 years. The Mariners usually host “Bark on the Park” nights at T-Cellular Park, Seattle’s dwelling area.

Tucker did not wait lengthy to make buddies with Mariners gamers. Pitcher Erik Swanson posted an image giving the canine some love forward of the workforce’s doubleheader towards the visiting Los Angeles Angels. Seattle shortstop J.P. Crawford additionally confirmed pleasure for his latest teammate.

The Mariners at present maintain the ultimate American League wild-card spot and have a two-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles — the workforce trailing them. Regardless of the high-stakes baseball, Servais hopes Tucker can add some enjoyable through the late-season grind.

“This little man is nice. Our gamers are enthusiastic about it. It is a good little distraction for them within the clubhouse. They love the little man,” Servais stated.