Seattle Mariners Line-Up Opening Day 2023
Joe Swenson
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2023 Starting Line-Up
1 – J.P. Crawford, SS – .292/.367/.418 (in 2022)
J.P. Crawford is coming off of his second gold glove in three years. His lead-off spot is just a place holder until #3 MLB prospect Jonatan Clase claims this spot. Clase is expected to be called up at the end of April. He’s also part of the logjam that’s preventing Marte from being called up. But don’t expect Crawford to give up his slot in the batting order without a fight.
2 – Jose Ramirez, 3B – .300/.402/.586
Seattle acquired Jose Ramirez during the offseason from the Indians in a blockbuster trade that moved Kyle Lewis, Emmerson Hancock, and Juan Then. The Mariners plan to resign J-Ram, either before the end of the season, or exercise the team option in his contract and negotiate an extension then.
3 – Jarred Kelenic, RF – .281/.383/.522
Jarred Kelenic is coming off of a mediocre season. His continued growth will be important to a successful 2023 campaign. He should improve upon the twenty-seven home runs he hit last season.
4 – Julio Rodriguez, CF – .318/366/.538
Julio Rodriguez’s 2022 was remarkable for a rookie. It wasn’t good enough to win the rookie of the year, but it was good enough to finish third in a highly competitive three-way race that included teammate George Kirby and Adley Rutschman of Baltimore.
5 – Ty France, 2B – .277/.356/.480.
Ty France had a slight downturn compared to his 2021 season. He finished with thirty-six home runs, which led the Mariners. 2022 saw him on the move positionally, only to settle in at designated hitter in September as Seattle made a big push to make the postseason.
6 – Evan White, 1B – .257/.319/.508
Evan White continues to be one of the top ten players in the league for exit velocity but also strikes out a very high percentage. His defense continues to be impressive.
7 – Mitch Haniger, DH – .245/.318/.462
During the 2023 season, Mitch Haniger will spend some time at all three outfield positions when he’s not the team’s designated hitter. He’s in the final year of his contract, and a trade seems imminent to make room for Noelvi Marte so that France can move to DH, and Marte or Ramirez can take over at second.
8 – Cal Raleigh, C – .266/.331/.501
Cal Raleigh slugged twenty-seven home runs last season and joined teammates Torrens and Murphy to combine for forty-three home runs at the catcher position. He took over starting duties full-time after the All-Star break.
9 – Taylor Trammell, LF – .231/.296/.350
Taylor Trammell is coming off of a disappointing season. A mid-season call-up in 2021, he just doesn’t seem to be developing at a fast enough click. He’s likely to be replaced by Clase in the starting line-up by the end of April.
Opening Day Starting Pitcher
Logan Gilbert, SP1 – 2.88 ERA 17-10
Gilbert is coming off a season that saw him finish eighth in the Cy Young race in 2021. Gilbert is making his first opening day start for the Mariners, winning that honor over Marco Gonzalez.