Seattle Mariners: Mitch Haniger could be shut out of a starting job in 2021
Ed Stein
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Two years ago, Mitch Haniger was the Seattle Mariners best player. A gruesome injury, rehabilitation setbacks, and the M’s exciting young players may keep him from a return to the starting lineup.
Coming off an All-Star level performance in 2018, Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger had good reason to be optimistic. Sometimes life happens when you’re busy making other plans.
He was off to a slow start last season when disaster struck. On June 7, Haniger was hit by a foul ball off his bat, which caused a ruptured testicle as well as collateral damage. The Seattle Mariners outfielder had surgery right away to repair the injury. As Haniger was rehabbing from that injury and a resulting herniated disk, he suffered an abdominal muscle injury. That one required another surgery, which took place in January.
His original prognosis was a six-to-eight week recovery. Even with the four-month COVID-19 stoppage, Haniger started the season on the Mariners Injured List. Two months later, he is yet to resume baseball activities.
Seattle Mariners General Manager Jerry DiPoto gave an update on Haniger’s status Thursday morning during an interview on 710 ESPN.
“He is in the Seattle area and is, as we understand, progressing very well,” he said. Our physical therapists keep in touch with the people who are working with Mitch and he seems to be in a good place and progressing better than he has at any point through this. That’s a lot to deal with and not surprisingly, it’s taking quite a bit of time for him to bounce back from it.”
The GM went on to say the team is being patient and that Haniger is still part of the organization’s future. Seattle Mariners fans have seen what a health Mitch Haniger can do. The question is: When (if) he recovers, will there be a regular place in the M’s starting lineup for him?
Kyle Lewis has already arrived in the Emerald City. He’s been outstanding defensively and a terror to opposing pitchers offensively. Through 42 games, Lewis is batting .307, with 9 home runs, 23 RBI, and a .896 OPS. He staked his claim to the Seattle Mariners outfield of the future.
The team’s top prospect, Jarred Kelenic, has been tearing it up this summer during intrasquad games at the Mariners alternate site on Tacoma. Number two prospect Julio Rodriguez injured his wrist diving for a ball back in June. He is nearly back to full strength. Both will vie for starting outfield jobs next spring.
Designated hitter may be an option for Haniger. Then again, maybe it won’t. Dylan Moore is manager Scott Servais’ Swiss Army knife, but his .912 OPS shows he belongs in the lineup. Also, Jose Marmelejos has been red hot since rejoining the team on August 27. The South Florida native is batting .324 with a 1.012 OPS.
It will be hard enough for Haniger to fit back in if he’s fully healthy. A less than 100 percent version is a veteran bench player for the youngest team in baseball.
Where do you think Mitch Haniger fits in with next season’s Seattle Mariners? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.