Ed Sheeran took time out before his Loop Tour concert in Seattle to join Seattle Mariners centre fielder Julio Rodríguez for batting practice, showing off some unexpected skill at the plate. The lighthearted moment, captured on video and shared by the Mariners and Major League Baseball, saw the singer successfully hit every pitch thrown at him, impressing the professional athlete.

The pair met up on 1 August after Sheeran's Seattle tour stop, when Rodríguez was still in the clubhouse following a Mariners win. Sheeran connected with pitches from both a simulated machine and Rodríguez's soft tosses, prompting the player to admit his surprise at the singer's batting ability. Afterwards, Rodríguez signed a bat for Sheeran, who in turn gifted him concert suite tickets and promised to send a custom guitar. The encounter came amid Sheeran's ongoing Loop Tour, which began in January in Auckland and follows his eighth studio album, Play, released in September 2025.