Mind-Blowing Mariners Match Fuels Speculation on Explosive Super Mario Leak

Recently, observant baseball enthusiasts noticed a Mario advertisement that may provide further evidence for the rumored leak of the latest Super Mario game. Speculation has been circulating that Nintendo is currently developing four new Mario titles, including a new mainline 2D Super Mario game, a remake of the beloved Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and two sports-themed spin-offs. The first of these spin-offs is rumored to be another installment of the Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games series, while the second is believed to be a fresh iteration of Super Mario Baseball.

Although Mario made his appearance as a guest character in the original Game Boy's Baseball game in 1989, his debut alongside the Mushroom Kingdom in a dedicated baseball title came in 2005 with Mario Superstar Baseball. A sequel, Mario Super Sluggers, was released on the Nintendo Wii in 2008, introducing motion controls and nine additional playable characters to the fast-paced, party-style gameplay of the original. However, since then, the series has remained dormant, with the only semblance of a follow-up being a baseball minigame featured in 2017's Mario Sports Superstars for the Nintendo 3DS.

Fans attending the latest Seattle Mariners game were pleasantly surprised by an intriguing Super Mario-related tease, according to ComicBook.com. A video shared on Twitter by Rob Friedman, a Peacock pitching analyst, showcased a billboard ad featuring Mario holding his bat from the Mario Baseball series. This has sparked speculation among Nintendo fans that a new Mario Baseball game is in development. However, some have suggested that it may simply be a generic promotional image, considering Nintendo's partial ownership of the Mariners. Nonetheless, this recent sign, along with the Mario leak in May, adds to the growing speculation of a potential new Mario Baseball game. Speculation has been fueled further by the release of Mario Strikers: Battle League last year, leading many to believe that Nintendo may be gearing up for a new wave of Mario sports titles. In February, rumors of a Mario Baseball sequel for the Nintendo Switch surfaced, fueling anticipation for a game that could feature guest characters like Pac-Man and expand beyond the Super Mario series.

Given the recent unexpected triumph of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the speculation about an upcoming Nintendo Direct next month, now is the opportune moment for an influx of exciting Super Mario game reveals, possibly similar to the ones alluded to in the prominent leak from last month. Among these potential announcements, it is plausible that a fresh Mario Baseball installment could be included. This speculation gains traction due to the recent appearance of Nintendo's beloved plumber at the Mariners game, suggesting that it may be more than just a sports-related promotion.