Diego Seguí

Diego Seguí, an MLB forkball specialist in the 1960s and '70s who pitched in the inaugural games for both the Seattle Pilots and Seattle Mariners, died June 24, 2025, at the age of 87.

Seguí never stayed long with any one team, spending time with seven clubs during his 15 years in the Majors. However, he made an impression at each one thanks to his forkball, which he hurled to a league-leading 2.56 ERA in 1970. Seguí etched himself into Seattle history twice when he pitched in the first game for the Seattle Pilots in 1969, then threw the first ever pitch for the newly-inaugurated Seattle Mariners in 1977. He was the only person to play on both Seattle teams. His efforts earned him induction into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame. In 2014, he was also honored with the Negro Leagues Beisbol Lifetime Achievement Award by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

"Heartbroken about the news of the passing of my dear friend, and former MLB pitcher, Diego Segui," Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, said on the social media playform X. "We honored Diego last November with our Negro Leagues Beisbol Lifetime Achievement Award. Sending thoughts and prayers to the Segui family."

By Eric San Juan

(Image: Icon Sportswire via AP Images)