There's a good reason as to why a lot of professional teams choose not to involve live animals in pre-game ceremonies...because animals can be quite unpredictable.
Thursday, before the start of the Mariners-Twins game, an American bald eagle took flight inside Target Field as part of an opening ceremony. During the ceremony, the eagle diverted from the original flight plan and ended up perching on top of Canadian pitcher James Paxton.
People couldn't help but laugh at the irony of an American bald eagle choosing to latch onto a Canadian player, almost as if to officially offer Paxton full American citizenship in the form of a claw grab.
The eagle landing didn't seem to provide the Mariners with any kind of extra luck, as they went on to lose the series opener versus the Twins 4-2.
