2018 Stanley Cup champion and current Seattle Kraken goaltender, Philipp Grubauer, received a= cool honor before Tuesday’s Seattle Mariners game.
The German netminder threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Mariners took on the San Diego Padres.
The 30-year-old goaltender took the mound greeted by a smattering of Gruuuuuuu chants and delivered a strike to Mariners pitcher Chris Flexen.
The pitch may have been called a ball during live action due to its height but it made it all the way to Flexen’s glove. Grubi is safe from any 50 Cent comparisons.
we stan Gru & @Mariners content 🥹 pic.twitter.com/7rZI7TyS81
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) September 14, 2022
Before his successful first pitch, Grubauer signed autographs and took selfies with Seattle fans in and around the Mariners dugout.
philipp grubauer is a man of the people 🥹🥹🥹 pic.twitter.com/Attzax3UBB
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) September 14, 2022
He even managed to get his full signature on this incredibly tiny souvenir bat.
brb adding “sign a mini bat at the @Mariners game” to our baseball bingo card 😂 pic.twitter.com/FhQley5HP1
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) September 14, 2022
Grubauer, a former Avalanche player and noted baseball fan, visited Coors Field and got a tour last month.
Always fun to have @philgrubauer31 back at Coors 💜 🏔 pic.twitter.com/0RVyznuaQ2
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) August 14, 2022
He also participated in the MLB’s All-Star celebrity softball game when the Rockies hosted the midseason classic in 2021.
The 2021 Vezina Trophy finalist will look to bounce back in 2022-23 after his tenure with the Kraken did not exactly start out on the right foot. In 55 games for the expansion league team, Grubauer posted an 18-31-5 record with a 3.16 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage.
Screenshot via @seattlekraken/Instagram
