Mitch Haniger, Seattle Mariners.
For some time now, Seatle Mariners fans have missed seeing Mitch Haniger in the lineup. They remember Mitch Haniger, the 2018 All-Star. The player who was the prized jewel in the Taijuan Walker trade. Yes, Jean Segura and Zac Curtis also came back to Seattle, and the M’s also sent over Ketel Marte. But Haniger was one of the top prospects in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He was the piece that turned this deal into a major win for the M’s.
One of the reasons Haniger caught Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto’s attention was his .289 overall batting average in the minors. That first year in Seattle, 2017, was good for Haniger. His first extensive taste in the majors resulted in a .282 batting average and .843 OPS, proving that he was an everyday big-league player. His success validated Dipoto’s eye for talent and the GM’s plan to bring a winner back to the Emerald City.
For an encore, Haniger upped his average to .285 in 2018. His slash line was 366/.493/.859 with 26 home runs and 96 RBI in 157 games. It earned him an All-Star appearance. The San Jose native’s star was on the rise.
Haniger was Kyle Lewis before Lewis. That is in terms of being a piece or the centerpiece to build this team around. A player who fans loved, came to watch at the ballpark; and brought national attention to the Pacific Northwest’s baseball team.
Then 2019 happened to Haniger, where he played only 63 games. His average and BABIP resembled his 2016 “cup of coffee” year in Arizona.
2016- Avg .228, BABIP .256
2019- Avg .220 & BABIP .257
For those that don’t know what happened to Haniger in 2019, he ruptured his testicle on June 6. The injury happened when Haniger foul tipped a Justin Verlander slider in the third inning. Haniger managed to get the bottom part of his bat on it and redirect the pitch “south of the border” (if he didn’t tip the ball, it probably would have hit him right in the stomach). Haniger stayed in the game until the seventh inning but was placed on the injured list the following day.
As a result, this injury cost him the rest of the 2019 season. Further complications led Haniger to sit out in 2020 as well. Setbacks and more surgeries derailed his planned comeback. After missing so much time, where does this leave Haniger in the M’s future plans?
Lewis is a star. His production at the plate and his Griffey-like defensive ability make him the starting center fielder and face of Seattle’s rebuild.
The situation has changed greatly since Haniger hit the injured list in 2019. Seattle’s top prospects list boasts a trio of highly-touted outfielders: Jarred Kelenic, Julio Y. Rodriguez, and Taylor Trammell. All three of them are under 25-years-old and laden with talent. Expect Trammell and Kelenic to make their respective Major League debut’s in 2021. Rodriguez is projected to make his debut the following year. However, depending on his recovery from a wrist injury as well as his production in the minors, Rodriguez could also get a call up to the show next summer.
Including Haniger and Lewis, that’s five outfielders for three starting outfield spots. There are several things to keep in mind:
As previously mentioned, Lewis is the M’s starting center fielder. Haniger was the starting right fielder before his injury. A healthy Haniger should eventually start there again. That leaves Kelenic and Trammell battling for the starting left field spot. Then there is the defensively steady Phil Ervin, not to mention Dylan Moore, who can flat-out hit and plays a decent corner outfield.
We don’t live in a vacuum. So, where does this glut of outfield talent realistically leave Haniger? The two most logical scenarios are slow-play or trade. I’ll give you a tease; the Haniger trade will be in an article about the M’s filling their need for an ace. Here is what is most likely to happen with Haniger.
Per Shannon Drayer, “It’s an encouraging update after Haniger sat out of the condensed 2020 campaign following a second core surgery and a back operation. He hasn’t appeared in a major league game since June 6, 2019, but Dipoto sounded cautiously optimistic in speaking with Seattle’s 710 ESPN on Tuesday that the 29-year-old outfielder will be a contributor at the beginning of next season. Haniger holds a career .827 OPS (125 OPS+) and has averaged 29 homers and eight steals for every 162 games played since breaking into the bigs in 2016.”
Scott Servais will take things slow with Haniger. The returning veteran likely starts the year as the Seattle Mariners designated hitter. Once he’s up to speed at the plate, Haniger will work his way into the permanent right field job. My “way too early” prediction on the 2021 opening day lineup is as follows:
While this lineup won’t be confused with the powerhouse Yankees or Dodgers, it should be good to start the year. Great getting Haniger’s productive bat back in the lineup makes it that much better. Having Lewis and Haniger batting back to back will lengthen the lineup. There is still the possibility that Haniger breaks spring training as the starting right fielder moving Ervin to a defensive replacement play. This will be the best-case scenario and allow Servais to get creative with the opening day roster. The future is bright for the Seattle Mariners, and I, for one, am excited to see MEEEETCH back playing.
Where do you think Mitch Haniger fits in with the rebuilding Seattle Mariners? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.