NHL’s Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith stop by Oracle Park for Giants batting practice ahead of Diamondbacks game

Before the San Francisco Giants opened their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the club welcomed a pair of high-profile guests from across the Bay in the NHL. Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks and Will Smith made a special visit to Oracle Park, stepping into the routine of a major league batting-practice day.

According to reports from the scene, both Sharks players participated in the Giants’ batting practice session. The event turned into a public, crossover moment that mixed NHL star power with MLB atmosphere, with the Giants giving the visiting athletes time on the field during the pregame window.

Celebrini, listed as a forward for San Jose, tested the outfield in a way that drew attention from nearby fans and media. The report described how he nearly produced a long ball, falling just short of the Levi’s Landing sign in right field, a target that has become a recognizable landmark during Giants home runs.

Smith’s participation rounded out the visit, adding another Sharks presence to the day’s story. For the Giants, the appearance offered a chance to engage fans beyond the usual baseball-only lane, reinforcing the Bay Area’s reputation for cross-sport fandom.

The timing matters because Giants-Diamondbacks games carry the standard urgency of late-season baseball, with each series contributing to the shape of the postseason picture. While the on-field stakes remain baseball-specific, the kind of crossover visit that happened Friday can still influence how a home crowd views the experience, especially when it provides an unexpected pregame storyline.

Even with the event’s novelty, it is important to keep expectations grounded. The visit was not reported as connected to any roster, scouting, or formal development program, and it did not change the baseball game plan for either team. The significance is best read as cultural and promotional, tied to how major league venues build moments that travel beyond the sport itself.

For what comes next, the focus returns to the Giants and Diamondbacks. Friday’s visit will likely remain a single-day headline, but it may serve as a preview of how professional sports in the Bay Area continue to borrow from one another’s spotlight, particularly in environments like Oracle Park where home-run lore is part of the brand.