Logan Morrison: A 2015 to Remember With the Seattle Mariners?

With 20 days until the Seattle Mariners’ first full-squad Spring Trainging workout in Peoria, Arizona, it’s time to give my educated guess on Logan Morrison‘s 2015 production.

At 23 days I gave my thoughts on new slugger Nelson Cruz.

At 22 days I shed light on what should be another great year from second baseman Robinson Cano.

(I skipped 21 days with Lloyd McClendon because, well, his abilities are harder to quantify).

So here we are, 20 days until we can stop talking about football. What is Logan Morrison going to do at first base for the M’s in 2015?

In his first season with the Mariners, Morrison hit .262/.315/.420 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI in just 99 games. He walked 24 times, struck out 59 times, and stole 5 bases.

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Though his offensive numbers are unspectacular for a first baseman, his September numbers left a hopeful taste in the mouths of Mariners fans. In 76 September at-bats, Morrison hit .342 with 8 doubles, 5 home runs, 11 RBI, and 5 walks. Those numbers are entirely unsustainable for an entire season, but if the second half Morrison is a better impression of what he has the potential to become, I like the Mariners’ odds.

Over at Fangraphs, Steamer projects Morrison to play in 138 games in 2015, batting .254/.326/.430 with 20 home runs and 71 RBI. They also predict a 9.6% walk rate with a 16.0% K rate. Steamer also predicts below average defense from LoMo at first, pegging him for 1.6 WAR in 2015.

These numbers look like they’re right on LoMo’s 162 game average numbers, where he gets 19 home runs and 70 RBI per full season.

So where do I think Logan Morrison ends up offensively?

Sep 21, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder

(12) is congratulated by teammates after he and second baseman

scored on a single by center fielder

(not pictured) during the sixth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Expect LoMo to take off in 2015. Like the rest of the younger guys on the roster, LoMo has developed confidence over the last season. On top of that, the Mariners’ lineup continues to get deeper and deeper with additions like Seth Smith and Nelson Cruz, and with the subtraction of guys like Corey Hart and Kendrys Morales.

With more power, skill, and depth up and down the Mariners lineup, pitchers will be forced to, well, pitch. As the roster stands now, it looks like LoMo will most likely hit 7th or 8th, taking a lot of pressure off his bat at the bottom of the order.

As for his actual numbers? I think Steamer is just about on target, though I’d peg Morrison for 18 home runs and 73 RBI, to go with an average of .268. On top of that, I think Morrison will improve defensively and be worth an even 2.0 WAR for 2015.

With Morrison’s numbers added to my Cruz and Cano projections, the Mariners would be getting 68 home runs and more than 240 RBI from their first base, second base, and DH positions. That hasn’t been a thing in Seattle since Edgar Martinez and John Olerud were playing.

So what do you think? Does Logan Morrison have a breakout season in him for 2015?