Seattle Mariners 2020 Review/2021 Preview – Relief Pitching
- Joey Gerber, Seattle Mariners.
Future M’s -Contenders for Opening Day
Brandon Brennan
In 2019 the Mariners took Brandon Brennan in the Rule 5 draft as they did Ramirez this year. He was the only reliever on the M’s staff from the start of 2019. Brennan opened the season with Seattle but spent most of this season on the injured list with a left oblique strain.
He pitched one game before going on the IL for most of the season. The 29-year-old came back at the end of September and pitched to a 3.68 ERA. If Brennan stays healthy, he could be on next season’s opening roster.
Joey Gerber
Last year Joey Gerber pitched at the Double-A level and began 2020 at the alternate training site in Tacoma. Drafted in the eighth round in 2018, Gerber is on the fast track through the Mariners system. He was called up to the big club on August 4 and became a key part of Servais’ bullpen.
The rookie finished second on the team in relief appearances (17) and third in relief innings (15.2). For the most part, Gerber had a good season with a rough spot here and there, finishing with a 4.02 ERA. At just 23-years-old, Gerber is expected to be a big part of rebuilding the Mariners relief staff.
Erik Swanson
Righty Erik Swanson was disappointing this year. Maybe he gets some slack for missing several weeks with a forearm strain. However, a 12.91 ERA in 7.2 innings pitched won’t cut it. Swanson has the potential to be a quality long reliever but has to show the Mariners he can be better next spring or its a ticket to Tacoma.
Taylor Guilbeau
At the 2019 trade deadline, the Seattle Mariners acquired Taylor Guilbeau from Washington. The lefty began the year playing intrasquad games in Tacoma but made one appearance opening week. He came back a week later and was outstanding. Between August 4-20, Guilbeau threw 6.2 innings over seven appearances without yielding a run.
That’s where his 2020 season ended, he missed the rest of the season due to injury. Guilbeau is a strong candidate to head north with the team after spring training in 2021.
Ian Hamilton
Before the season ended, Seattle claimed former Washington State Cougars standout, Ian Hamilton, off of waivers from the Chicago White Sox. In 2019 right shoulder issues sidelined him for a good part of the season, which carried over to 2020. Hamilton spent most of this summer at Chicago’s alternate training site but did pitch in four games for the ChiSox with an ERA of 4.50. I’m sure he’ll have his opportunity to be one of the Seattle Mariners relief pitchers next spring.