Root Sports saw its final days in the 2025 season, but the Mariners’ home network showcased the ability of Mentink to blossom into a new color commentator role.

SEATTLE — For the past 28 years, Angie Mentink has seen it all with the Mariners, and has nearly done it all. This year, the broadcaster stepped into the color commentary role in a main rotating spot — the first full season in her entire career.

“I’ve never done this before and so I’m learning, and through the course of 2025, I’ve gotten better,” she said. “What worked, what didn’t, how I can get better, how I can get in, how I can get out, how I can be Angie and still have fun.”

While her inaugural season came with more applause than not, Mentink is still quite aware of the critiques.

“There are some people who don’t think because I haven’t played baseball at the Major League level — I’ve played professional baseball against men, but not at the highest level — that I shouldn’t have this role, but I sort of point to a lot of really amazing baseball minds, Perry Hill, Manny Acta, Pete Woodworth, all incredible when it comes to their knowledge of the game who never played at the major league level. And so, I don’t necessarily believe that has to be a prerequisite.”

Not a Major Leaguer, but a professional baseball player? You betcha! Mentink, formerly Angie Marzetta, played for the Colorado Silver Bullets in 1995 and ’96, playing against men and women during the ’94-’95 MLB strike. She then returned to her Alma Mater, The University of Washington, to coach softball, and even coached current Huskies head coach Heather Tarr. Marzetta was later named the first-ever Husky Softball Hall of Famer. Tarr said her knowledge of both games proved invaluable.

“Having Angie as a coach here at Washington after she graduated and she was playing for the Silver Bullets, I felt so much empathy from her because I actually came from baseball as a young player,” Tarr said. “My last year playing baseball was in 9th grade and so my transition into softball was challenging. But I just give credit to her for being able to do it but also being able to shift back and forth so easily.”

Tarr believes it’s that crossover knowledge that allows Mentink to meld perfectly into the Major League broadcast booth.

“For her to be able to cross over into a male-dominated sport, you don’t see that very often. You see a lot of men coming into our sport specifically or women’s sports, and they don’t receive as much of the criticism because there’s probably not as many fans that would have aimless hours to critique, but Angie’s a pro’s pro and she knows the game, whether it’s baseball or softball,” Tarr said. “She was the best coach I ever had in my life and I’m a believer that she should be where she’s at.”

Breaking barriers is crucial to the next generation of women. but Mentink wants to ensure she’s also a role model to her two sons and any young person.

“It’s not just about women helping women — that’s very important, let me be clear — but also men in positions where they see and value what a woman can bring in that role. I have two sons and it’s so incredibly important that they see what a woman is capable of.”