She's Back: Angie Mentink Returns to the Mariners Booth After Her Stroke
Angie Mentink just came back from one of the toughest fights of her life, and she was not about to miss opening day at T-Mobile Park. The legendary Mariners broadcaster suffered a stroke on February 21, but she made it her mission to be in that booth come March. And on Saturday, preparing for her second game back on the job, she was ready to go.
"There's definitely a sense of normalcy being back here," Mentink said. "I love the steady drumbeat of baseball season. This year, it was just more even, more welcoming to me walking down the hallways and stepping on the elevator. It was like, 'Oh, yeah, this feels good.'"
A Pioneer Returns to the Diamond
Mentink has been a reporter and host for Mariners broadcasts since 1997. Last year, she made history as the first woman in club history to serve a regular role as an in-game color analyst. This is someone who bleeds Mariner blue through and through.
The stroke left her paralyzed on her left side. She had to relearn how to walk and remaster everyday tasks like unloading the dishwasher. But Mentink's toughness showed immediately. She was determined to make spring training in Arizona back in mid-March, convinced she could do it. Her bosses at the Mariners had other ideas.
"The Mariners have been so awesome," she said. "I was trying to get back for spring training. I was like, 'I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.' And they were just like, 'Stop. Don't worry about that. Let's focus on opening day and make that your goal.' And I was grateful for that."
The Support She's Received
Since the news broke Friday in Seattle Met magazine, the calls and texts have poured in. Mariners manager Dan Wilson had nothing but respect for her comeback.
"Obviously, we all wish her the best as she gets through this," Wilson said after talking with Mentink on Saturday. "She's been a pioneer in this game, and it's tremendous. She does a great job, she bleeds Mariner blue, and we're lucky to have her here in Seattle."
This isn't Mentink's first battle with adversity. Back in 2017, she faced breast cancer and underwent surgery and radiation treatments. The support from the Mariners organization and the Seattle community was overwhelming then too.
Now she's back where she belongs, calling the games she loves for the fans who love her. That's what toughness looks like.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.