to cross his path for a bit
同じく松井秀喜選手引退セレモニーから。
cross a person's path（＝cross the path of a person)には、「人の行く手を横切る、邪魔をする」という意味のほか、これとは真反対の意味で、「人に偶然出会う、巡り会う」という意味もあります。ここは当然、後者です。すばらしい賛辞ではないでしょうか。（UG）
The ceremony concluded with Matsui throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. It also happened to coincide with his last major-league manager in the opposing dugout.
“Truly it’s great that he’s retiring as a Yankee,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “And I feel we are very fortunate that we were able to cross his path for a bit.”