Every year, it’s often said that the baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint—so fans are reminded not to panic when their team hits a rough patch, especially with a 162-game schedule.
That’s easier said than done, though—especially if you’re a Seattle Mariners fan.
In recent years, the Mariners have developed a habit of starting slow. The most notable example came in 2023, when they hovered around .500 for much of the first half. Although they turned things around after the All-Star break, they still fell heartbreakingly short—missing the playoffs by just one game.
Last season was a reversal in some ways, but with the same frustrating ending: one game shy of the postseason. The lesson? A fast start can go a long way. And speaking of starting strong—or not—here’s a look at three Mariners hitters who are already raising concerns among fans in Seattle.
No. 1: Julio Rodríguez
It might feel like piling on, but how can we not start with Julio Rodríguez? Now in his fourth season, there’s a growing sense of anticipation—not just from the Mariners and their fans, but across Major League Baseball—for him to fully step into the spotlight as a true five-tool superstar in the mold of Ken Griffey Jr.
Rodríguez burst onto the scene in 2022, capturing the imagination of fans with an All-Star nod, a Silver Slugger award, and AL Rookie of the Year honors. But since then, his numbers have dipped across multiple key metrics—WAR, his slash line, OPS, OPS+, and rOBA among them.
He’s still shown flashes of brilliance—none bigger than his red-hot August in 2023, where he torched opposing pitchers with a .429/.474/.724 line and a jaw-dropping 1.197 OPS, leading the Mariners to a 21-6 record that month. Performances like that keep the faith alive, and even led Will Leitch of MLB.com to boldly predict Rodríguez would win AL MVP this year.
So far, though, he’s once again started the season sluggishly—managing just four hits in his first 22 at-bats. Interestingly, he’s drawn more walks (five) than he has hits, which has helped him post a 143 OPS+—just shy of the 147 he put up during his rookie campaign.
There’s no doubting the raw talent. But if the Mariners are going to return to the playoffs and become legitimate contenders, Rodríguez will need to bring that talent to the forefront more consistently—with moments like the towering homer he crushed in the series finale against the A’s becoming the rule, not the exception.
No. 2: Cal Raleigh
The Mariners’ lineup struggled last season, finishing near the bottom in several key offensive categories—they had the second-lowest batting average, ranked 22nd in OPS, led the league in strikeouts, and came in 21st in runs scored. Despite the tough year overall, one bright spot remained consistent: Cal Raleigh.
Raleigh continued to deliver regardless of the team’s broader issues. He wrapped up the 2024 season with career highs—34 home runs, 100 RBIs, and a 4.7 WAR—leading the Mariners in all three. The home run milestone was especially significant, bringing his career total to 93, the most by a catcher in their first four seasons, surpassing Hall of Famer Mike Piazza.
His stellar all-around play, which also earned him Gold and Platinum Glove honors, was rewarded with a well-earned six-year, $105 million contract extension from Seattle in late March. Unfortunately, he’s off to a slow start this season, managing just three hits in 24 at-bats and a .500 OPS—a surprising slump for a player typically immune to the team’s offensive woes.
Some fans are understandably concerned, as Raleigh is usually the one constant. Still, there’s a silver lining: the team leader has quietly extended his on-base streak to 20 games, just four shy of Shohei Ohtani for the longest active streak in the majors.
No. 3: J.P. Crawford
The past two seasons at the plate have been a stark contrast for J.P. Crawford, with drastically different outcomes. In 2023, he posted career-highs in OBP, OPS, and wOBA, but 2024 saw him hit career-lows in those same metrics.
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Crawford’s drop-off in 2024 was especially jarring given his strong 2023 campaign, where he tallied personal bests with 19 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 94 walks, even earning some AL MVP consideration. This sharp decline raised a fair question heading into this year: which version of Crawford is closer to his true self?
So far in 2025, it unfortunately looks more like the 2024 version. Through seven games, he has just two hits in 18 at-bats, translating to a troubling .111 batting average and a .415 OPS—both of which would mark career lows if sustained over a full season.
There’s a small silver lining: Crawford shares the team lead with Julio Rodríguez and Randy Arozarena with five stolen bases and has scored three runs. Still, he’ll need to show much more to resemble the impact player he was in 2023. Realistically, the truth probably lies somewhere between the highs of 2023 and the lows of 2024—and at this point, most Mariners fans would happily take that.
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