Bald eagle lands on Mariners P Paxton’s shoulder during anthem

A bald eagle apparently mistook Seattle Mariners pitcher James Paxton — nicknamed “The Big Maple” — for an actual maple tree on Thursday, landing on Paxton’s shoulder after flying across the stadium during the national anthem.

The Canadian lefty was standing with his hat off and hand over his heart in the outfield at Target Field prior to the Mariners’ game against the Minnesota Twins, when the eagle looped toward him and tried to land on his shoulder, missing and dropping to the grass.

The eagle then made a second, more successful attempt, as Paxton ducked his head but remained surprisingly calm. After a moment on Paxton’s shoulder, the eagle dropped back to the grass, where its trainer corralled it.

Ironically, the team introduced a new commercial this season centered on Paxton and his nickname, with Paxton harboring bird eggs in a nest inside his hat.

Paxton had a rocky first start of the season, allowing six runs in 4 2/3 innings, but perhaps this is a sign of a few goose-egg outings to come.

–Field Level Media