Watch: Bald eagle mistakes James Paxton for a real big maple tree before Mariners-Twins game

(Screengrab via MLB.com)MINNEAPOLIS — Well, he is nicknamed “Big Maple” and there is a commercial featuring him taking care of a nest of eggs in his hat.

But on Thursday, it went a step further for James Paxton and the Mariners.

During the Twins’ elaborate pregame ceremony for their home opener, which also included the U.S. gold medal curling team rolling out the first pitch, a bald eagle was supposed to fly across the field during the national anthem. It’s something that is common for big events.

But this eagle decided that after flying across the field, he would stop not on his handler’s forearm, but on Paxton’s shoulder.

Paxton, who was standing at attention with his hat on his heart, was…