Seattle Mariners: Building the best 2022 batting order
Batting 3rd – Jesse Winker
Acquiring Jesse Winker gives the Seattle Mariners a boost offensively. Although he tailed off in the second half of another injury-plagued season, Winker still had an impressive season. Before injuries got the better of him, he was challenging for the National League batting title. His power tapered off as well as he went from a 40+ home run pace to finish with 32.
While Winker should slot in nicely as the third hitter in the lineup, he didn’t bat third at all in 2021. Instead, he spent most of the season as the second batter and led off as well. He’s an on base machine, constantly hovering around the .400 mark.
He’s not much of a fielder, with a combined -6 runs saved last year. So splitting time as the left fielder and designated hitter might keep Winker from experiencing the injuries he experienced in three of the previous four seasons.
Jesse Winker should bat third in the Mariners lineup.
Batting 4th – Ty France vs. Eugenio Suarez
This is where Ty France performed the best in 2021; if Haniger is batting second, then France needs to be no further down than cleanup. For his part, Eugenio Suarez is two years removed from hitting 49 bombs in a season. He had trouble making contact at the plate last year, batting .198, but he still managed to hit 31 home runs.
The only spot in the lineup that Suarez didn’t go was the second spot. He primarily hit from the fifth or sixth spot, and he was very Kyle Seager-esque from those spots, which is an improvement overall from the other spots in the lineup.
Ty France should bat fourth and provide Winker some much-needed protection.
Ty France makes baseball disappear 🪄 pic.twitter.com/t03Svj3uKq
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) September 23, 2021