Ichiro's Blessing: Ryon Healy Is Making Broadcast Booth Look Easy

Ichiro spotted him standing in front of the home dugout at T-Mobile Park on Monday and couldn't resist the moment. The Hall of Famer walked over to Ryon Healy, gave him a handshake and a bro hug, and then made a gesture with his right hand. Repeatedly pressing his thumb to his four fingers in the shape of a beak, Ichiro was saying something without words: you're good at talking. That's the kind of endorsement money can't buy. And it's the perfect snapshot of Healy's first week on the job as a color analyst for Mariners broadcasts.

From Former Teammate to Voice in the Booth

Healy's climb to the broadcast booth happened fast. Just 18 months ago, he hadn't even seriously considered it as a path forward. But on Wednesday, he'll wrap up his initial six-game trial run as a color analyst alongside play-by-play voice Aaron Goldsmith for the Mariners' series finale against the Athletics. It's been a rapid journey for the 34-year-old who once manned first base and third base for Seattle.

The Mariners acquired Healy from the Athletics in November 2017 when they traded reliever Emilio Pagán for him. During the 2018 and 2019 seasons, he hit 31 home runs over 180 games. There's history here too. Healy homered in Ichiro's final game on March 21, 2019 in Tokyo, a 5-4 M's win over the A's. A standout player at the University of Oregon, Healy was drafted by Oakland in the third round back in 2013.

Learning as He Goes

"I know I still have a lot to learn," Healy said. "I've started this journey without knowing that I really wanted to do it, and as I've grown in it, I want to share the perspective of players who have actually been in the uniform."

For the past few years, Healy has been living in Arizona with his wife and their two young children, working with college and high-school ballplayers as a hitting coach and mental-skills mentor. Last year, SiriusXM MLB Network Radio hired him as an analyst. During the Mariners' playoff run last fall, he started doing regular spots on KJR Sports Radio. That got the attention of Mariners brass and led to this extended audition.

Healy credits Aaron Goldsmith for helping him settle into the role. "I cannot thank 'Goldy' enough for how he's communicated, how he treats me, how he sets me up for success," Healy said. Goldsmith has been equally impressed. "Ryon has some natural ability that we've seen already in just a handful of games on the telecast," Goldsmith said. "He asks the right questions. He's incredibly engaged. He's very thoughtful in his preparation and in his in-game comments. And I think he has a real love for the game, which is evident to everyone watching."

Healy is scheduled to be back on the air in late May and early June when the Mariners begin a six-day homestand against the Diamondbacks and Mets. If the first week is any indication, Seattle fans are in for something special.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.