In some ways, the Seattle Mariners’ offseason was best represented by their signing of Donovan Solano, a move that didn’t generate much excitement—especially when compared to other potential infield targets like Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso.
Ultimately, Solano is expected to share first base duties with Luke Raley, leaving many Mariners fans questioning whether this pairing will be enough in 2025.
But what if there’s another possible solution to the first base dilemma?
R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports recently compiled a list of breakout candidates for all 30 MLB teams, assigning each player a confidence rating of high, medium, or low. For the Mariners, he selected Tyler Locklear, giving him a medium level of confidence.
Tyler Locklear is highly rated by the Mariners and in general
Anderson begins by acknowledging Locklear’s struggles after his MLB debut last June, particularly his 20 strikeouts in 49 plate appearances, which highlight his swing-and-miss tendencies. Additionally, being a right-handed first baseman presents its own challenges at T-Mobile Park.
However, there’s a reason the Mariners saw enough potential in Locklear to select him in the second round of the 2022 draft. He was ranked as the organization’s No. 6 prospect last year and currently sits at No. 10 among all first base prospects according to MLB Pipeline.
Offensively, scouts are most impressed by Locklear’s raw power, though his skillset extends beyond that—he also has the ability to spray the ball across the field.
Despite his struggles in the Majors last season, the experience should be valuable for his growth. Given his strong performance at Triple-A, where he posted a .260/.371/.430 slash line with an .801 OPS over 70 games for Tacoma, he has certainly earned another shot.
Tyler Locklear’s potential could benefit the Mariners this year
Despite Locklear’s high strikeout rate in the Majors last season, Anderson remains confident in his strong swing decisions—a skill that has been evident throughout his rise in the minors. Paired with his impressive strength, the CBS Sports columnist anticipates Locklear receiving “a prolonged look” at first base at some point in 2025.
In one sense, you almost hope Locklear doesn’t get an extended shot this season, as that could suggest Solano and Raley are underperforming. However, if he truly is the Mariners’ future at first base and as talented as many believe, there’s a strong argument that the best time to give him an opportunity is sooner rather than later.
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