Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith and his wife, Kathy Surace-Smith, have purchased a stake in the Mariners ownership group, the first new partners to join the franchise since Ken Griffey Jr. in 2021.
They are just the third new partners since the ownership formed in 1992.
“On behalf of all of the partners, I want to welcome Kathy and Brad,” John Stanton, Mariners chair and managing partner, said in a news release. “Since this group formed in 1992, it has always been a priority to identify partners who both love baseball and are passionate about public service. Adding Kathy and Brad to our partnership strengthens our commitment to the Mariners Mission of winning championships, creating unforgettable experiences and serving our communities.
Brad Smith has spent more than 30 years at Microsoft and was promoted to vice chair and president in 2015.
Kathy Surace-Smith is senior VP of Human Resources and Legal Affairs at NanoString Technologies, Inc. She was previously VP & General Counsel at SonoSite Inc. and Metawave Communications.
“We’re excited to join the Partnership Group and support the Mariners success, both on the field and in service to the community,” the couple said in a statement.
Pitching matchups for Houston
The Mariners were scheduled to fly out to Houston after Wednesday’s series finale against the Braves, and they’ll spend an off day in Space City ahead of the start of a divisional series Friday against the Astros.
Even with the off day to work with, manager Scott Servais said there are no plans to shuffle the Mariners’ starting rotation. Here are the pitching probables for the series:
Friday: Seattle RHP George Kirby (3-2, 4.18) vs Houston RHP Ronel Blanco (3-0, 1.65)
Saturday: Seattle RHP Logan Gilbert (2-0, 2.03) vs. Houston LHP Framber Valdez (1-0, 2.60)
Sunday: Seattle RHP Bryce Miller (3-2, 2.40) vs. TBD
The Astros haven’t announced a starter for Sunday, but right-hander Cristian Javier is expected to be activated from the injured list to start the series finale.
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