MLB Twitter celebrates Mariano Rivera throwing out ceremonial first pitch ahead of WBC 2023 game: "Enter Mr. Sandman"

Legendary reliever Mariano Rivera graced the World Baseball Classic 2023 stage as he was invited to throw out the first pitch ahead of the Pool A game between Panama and Chinese Taipei.

MLB fans on Twitter were overjoyed to see the MLB great back on the baseball field, albeit performing a different role.

What a MOment at the #WorldBaseballClassic!

Legendary closer Mariano Rivera threw out the 1st pitch before the Panama-Chinese Taipei game. https://t.co/rjxZiZZuQY

MLB fans took to Twitter to share their love and admiration for the legendary Yankees closer:

"Enter Mr. Sandman"

Enter Mr. Sandman. #WBC2023 🙌🏼 twitter.com/mlb/status/163…

"The Sandman"

The Sandman 🫡 twitter.com/mlb/status/163…

"I C O N I C"

I C O N I C. twitter.com/MLB/status/163…

"Greatest closer ever, PERIOD. Greatest entrance ever, PERIOD. Mo is the MOment"

Greatest closer ever, PERIOD. Greatest entrance ever, PERIOD. Mo is the MOment 👏 twitter.com/mlb/status/163…

"The Real #GOAT𓃵"

The Real #GOAT𓃵 twitter.com/mlb/status/163…

"Greatest closer ever"

greatest closer ever. twitter.com/MLB/status/163…

If not, this was a missed opportunity:

"But did they play Enter Sandman?"

@MLB @Yankees @MarianoRivera But did they play Enter Sandman?

There is always one user in every Twitter comment section

"Mid closer"

@MLB @Yankees @MarianoRivera Mid closer

Ouch

"Only highlight so far of this game"

Only highlight so far of this game twitter.com/MLB/status/163…

Now, now

"Wait for Dominican republic and the world will know how to play baseball"'"

@MLB @WBCBaseball @Yankees @MarianoRivera Wait for Dominican republic and the world will know how to play baseball

"Panama-Taiwan game. There - I fixed it for you"

@MLB @Yankees @MarianoRivera Panama-Taiwan game. There - I fixed it for you.

Factos

"Usually he throws the last pitch!"

@MLB @Yankees @MarianoRivera Usually he throws the last pitch!

Mariano Rivera is a New York Yankees living legend

Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees gets set to throw a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees won 7-3 to win the series 4 games to 2.

Mariano Rivera spent the entirety of his career with the New York Yankees, scripting a fairytale chapter most baseball players can only dream of. He was a 13-time All-Star and won the World Series five times with the Pinstripers.

He was the last player to wear jersey number 42 in the MLB. He continued wearing it till his retirement in 2013, post which it was retired by the Yankees. He is the only player in MLB history to be unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame.