Video: Ken Griffey Jr. Returns To Mariners, Permanently

SEATTLE, WA - Mariners fans have been waiting for this moment for years: Ken Griffey Jr. has returned to the team, and this time it's forever. The team on Thursday unveiled a statue of The Kid, which will greet fans at the front gate for as long as Safeco is around. Griffey was joined at the event by the Mariners organization - and also Snoop Dogg.

The seven-foot tall bronze statue will live at the home base gate at Safeco. The statue follows Griffey's induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in 2016.

"This is unbelievable. That's the word I'd use. Incredible, unbelievable. The craziness hasn't stopped. It's very humbling," Griffey said at the unveiling. Griffey was so honored, he even shed a few tears.

"We are thrilled to unveil this beautiful new statue today," Mariners President Kevin Mather said. "Since this ball park opened in 1999, we have been waiting to complete the look at our front door. The finishing touch, so to speak. Today we finally have the perfect piece that will welcome fans for generations to come."

Here's a video of the moment the statue was unveiled:

You can see the statue tonight when the Mariners face off against the Texas Rangers at 7:10 p.m. Fittingly, the first 45,000 fans will get a mini replica of the Ken Griffey Jr. statue.

Image via Seattle Mariners