Ed Sheeran Hits It Out of the Park with MLB Star

Ed Sheeran recently engaged in batting practice with Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez during his tour stop in Seattle on August 1, 2026. Video shared by the Mariners captured Sheeran inside the batting cages, taking swings at pitches from a machine and from Rodríguez himself. The MLB star expressed surprise at Sheeran's performance, noting that the singer connected with every ball. Following the practice, Rodríguez signed a baseball bat for Sheeran, who reciprocated by gifting suite tickets to his concert and promising a custom guitar. Sheeran's "Loop Tour" commenced on January 16, 2026, in Auckland, New Zealand, supporting his eighth studio album, "Play," released in September 2025. The album's lead single, "Azizam," achieved chart success.