Matt Brash, Seattle Mariners.
The Seattle Mariners expect to compete to make the playoffs and win the American League West in 2022. It all starts in spring training. Who is doing well? Who isn’t? How will their performance (good or bad) affect their standing with the team?
9 games, 10-for-20, .500/.565/.600, 5 runs, 1 RBI
Acquired near last season’s trade deadline, the Seattle Mariners are counting on Abraham Toro to be a big part of the team in 2022. Hitting .500 certainly justifies his place on the roster. A little more pop might be nice. Only 1 of his 10 hits is for extra bases (a triple).
9 games, 7-for-23, .304/.360/.565/.925, 3 doubles, 4 runs, 5 RBI.
“You think you belong on this team, Rook? Go earn it.”
That’s exactly what Julio Rodriguez is doing. While his day-to-day performance has been somewhat uneven this spring, for the most part, Rodriguez is handling the competition well.
Four extra-base hits in 24 at bats looks really good. A team-leading 9 strikeouts show he still has some things to learn about Major League pitching.
8 games, 5-for-16, .313/.421/.688, 2, home runs, 3 runs, 3 RBI.
2020’s play almost anywhere; do-it-all sensation, Dylan Moore, bottomed out last year. He had a .181 batting average and .610. OPS. Worse, Moore came close to twice as many strikeouts as hits, 111-60 in 332 at bats.
The utility man arrived at spring training squarely on the bubble. His play so far is earning him a job with the Mariners to start 2022.
8 games, 4-for-15, .267/.421/.667/1.088, 1 home run, 4 runs, 3 RBI
After a mid-season call-up, Cal Raleigh proved defensively that he’s an MLB catcher. His performance at the plate left something to be desired.
Sharing time this spring, the switch hitting catcher is putting up some good offensive numbers. When he makes contact, Raleigh is productive, with three of his four hits going for extra bases and three driven in. If the Mariners can live with his high strikeout rate, either Tom Murphy or Luis Torrens may be playing somewhere else this season.
7 games, 2-for-15, .133/.188/.133/.321, 6 strikeouts.
If Tom Murphy thought he had a job locked up when he arrived in Peoria, Murph might want to re-check that philosophy. Raleigh is on the uptick, and management seems inclined to keep Luis Torrens.
Murphy’s calling card is defense, but Raleigh can do the same, and the latter is a switch hitter. Batting below the Mendoza line isn’t helping his cause. The veteran backstop needs to step it up.
8 games, 1-for-19, .053/.280/.105/.385, 1 double, 2 RBI.
Adjusting from the Grapefruit League to the Cactus League hasn’t been easy for Jesse Winker. He’s got one hit this spring. At least his eye is okay. Winker leads the team with five bases on balls.
So far, Winker isn’t producing to his hype. But it’s spring training, and there is plenty of time for him to get in gear.
8 games, 5-for-22, .227/.261/.273/.534, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts.
It wasn’t too long ago that M’s fans thought Jarred Kelenic was “THE ONE,” But that was before J-Rod became the next big thing. Now Kelenic has to look over his shoulder, and it’s not going well.
The Mariners need Kelenic to be the player he was last September .248/.331/.524/.854, 7 home runs, and 20 RBI. Maybe starting the season in Tacoma would give him some motivation.
2 games, 1 start, 5.0 innings, 7 strikeouts, 0.00 ERA, 0.48 WHIP
Seattle has an opening for a fifth-starter, and Matt Brash is pitching himself into contention for it. He’s given up just one hit this spring. Concerns about his control have been put aside, as evidenced by his one walk allowed.
2 games, 4.2 innings, 2 hits, 0.00 ERA, .118 WHIP
Getting sent back to the minors last summer and an offseason to think about it seems to have set Justus Sheffield on the right path. The Mariners need another lefty in the pen as well as someone who can be an opener if called upon. It looks like Shef might be cooking again in Seattle.
3 games, 3 innings pitched, 1 hit, 0 runs, 2 strikeouts, 0 walks.
Drew Steckenrider is picking up where he left off in 2021. That bodes very well for the M’s pen. The way Scott Servais uses his relievers, an effective Steck is the ideal setup man.
2 games, 2 starts, 6.2 innings, 6 hits, 2 home runs, 8.10 ERA.
The Seattle Mariners expect Logan Gilbert to be part of the starting rotation this season. He’s shown flashes of the pitcher they know he can be with 10 strikeouts. The long balls are concerning, as are the 6 earned runs. Are the M’s worried?
2 games, 1 start, 4.2 innings, 8 hits, 2 home runs, 11.57 ERA, 2.14 WHIP.
George Kirby is the number three prospect in the Seattle Mariners organization. Unfortunately, it’s not his time yet. Maybe Kirby figures it out and joins the teams later this season.
3 games, 3.0 innings, 6 hits, 2 home runs, 9.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP.
Ken Giles and Andres Munoz are back from their TJ surgeries. That put Erik Swanson on the bubble as spring training began. He hasn’t done much to earn a spot this March.
Batters are always ahead of pitchers at this point. How much importance will Servais put on spring training results?