Seattle Mariners' Spring Battles: Second Southpaw Reliever

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Feb 21, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Mark Lowe watches a bullpen session during camp at Peoria Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners have done a fantastic job this offseason of adding to their roster. The M’s finished just one game shy of making their first postseason appearance since 2001, and Jack Zduriencik was on mission this winter to put them over the top. Just like most clubs at this time of year, the M’s still have a few positions up for grabs. We are now a week into spring training games, and we thought it would be an appropriate time to update fans on the most intriguing Mariners’ position battles.

Today we will discuss what has been one of the under-the-radar spring training position competitions; the second left-hander in the Mariners’ bullpen. The Mariners had one of the most dominant bullpens in the history of the game last season, and they return many of the key contributors in 2015. However, lefty specialist Joe Beimel was not re-signed despite resurrecting his career last year in Seattle.

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Losing Beimel has obviously left a void down in the M’s pen. Thankfully, the Mariners have done a nice job stockpiling young pitchers the past few years. Youngsters, Tyler Olson and David Rollins, have surprised on lookers with their sterling performances early in spring training. Danny Hultzen is full recovered from 2013 shoulder surgery, and looked great in his spring debut on March 11. The Mariners have reunited with veteran southpaw Joe Saunders, signing him to a minor league deal in February. Lucas Luetge is a familiar name to M’s fans, and he has the potential to make a big impact with the Mariners in 2015.

We will begin the list of candidates with Tyler Olson, who has been phenomenal in spring training. Olson has come out of nowhere to take a slight lead in the race to be the second southpaw in the Mariners’ bullpen.

Next: The Early Favorite

Feb 26, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Tyler Olson poses for a portrait during photo day at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Early Favorite: Tyler Olson

Tyler Olson entered spring training as a relative unknown to M’s fans, having never pitched above Double-A. However, over the course of just two appearances, Olson has made big impression on the Mariner faithful. The 25-year-old southpaw has hurled three perfect innings to open the spring, and has added five strikeouts. Olson struck out the side against the Cleveland Indians on Monday afternoon.

The former 7^th round selection out of Gonzaga started 2014 with the High Desert Mavericks of the California League. Olson flourished, going 2-1, and registering a 3.13 ERA across five starts. His performance with the Mavericks warranted a promotion to the Jackson Generals of the Southern League. Olson’s transition at Double-A was a smooth one, and he finished the season with a record of 10-7 and an ERA of 3.52 across 22 starts. He has great command of all his pitches, and held the opposition to just 1.8 walks per 9 innings. He did a great job limiting the long ball, allowing just 8 home runs in 148.1 innings of work last season. Olson posted an impressive 4.0 strikeout to walk ratio during his time with the Generals.

While Tyler Olson is not known as a power lefty, he does an effective job hitting his spots and mixing speeds. He held left-handed hitters to a .206 batting average in 2014. The M’s may prefer to send Olson down to Tacoma at the end of this month for more seasoning. However, the Spokane native may force his way onto the club if he continues to shine in Arizona.

Next: The Underdog

Feb 26, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher David Rollins poses for a portrait during photo day at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Underdog: David Rollins

David Rollins is another unheralded lefty who has really turned some heads early in spring training. Rollins has made three appearances for the M’s this month, and he has pitched three shutout innings. The 25-year-old has allowed two hits, but has yet to walk anyone. Rollins gets some zip on his fastball, and has recorded two strikeouts.

Originally a 24^th round selection of the Toronto Blue Jays, David Rollins has spent the last two seasons in the Houston Astros Organization. Rollins played the entire 2014 season with the Astros Double-A affiliate in Corpus Christi. The Dallas, TX product went 3-4 with a 3.81 ERA across 78.0 innings with the Hooks last season. He is considered a strikeout pitcher, and last season he averaged 8.9 punch outs per 9 innings. Rollins does a nice job throwing strikes, and he issued just 2.5 free passes per 9 innings in 2014.

David Rollins has officially been drafted on three separate occasions by the Seattle Mariners. The first time was when they selected him in the 24^th round out of high school in 2009, however the two sides were unable to reach an agreement. The following year the M’s stole Rollins in the 47^th round, but again the two sides could not come together. The past offseason the Mariners finally got their man, picking Rollins in the rule 5 draft from the Houston Astros. Since Rollins is a rule 5 pick, he has to remain on Seattle’s 25-man roster for the entirety of the 2015 season, or else he is returned to the Astros.

The Mariners are giving David Rollins another opportunity to strut his stuff on Thursday afternoon against the A’s. The M’s seem to like Rollins, and his rule 5 status works in his favor. I would not be the least bit surprised if he is the second southpaw in the Mariners’ bullpen on opening day.

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The Dark Horse: Danny Hultzen

Danny Hultzen was at one point the top prospect in the Seattle Mariners’ farm system. However, he missed the entire 2014 season recovering from shoulder surgery. The former number two overall pick pitched in his first game action since the surgery on March 11^th against the Colorado Rockies. The 25-year-old held the Rockies off the scoreboard in his lone inning of work. While his debut was not perfect, Hultzen showed glimpses of why he was at one point considered a potential top of the rotation arm. He has a live arm, and on Wednesday his fastball was consistently clocked between 93 and 95 mph.

Feb 26, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Danny Hultzen poses for a portrait during photo day at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The University of Virginia alum was on the fast track to the big leagues prior to hurting his shoulder in 2013. He was plagued by injures thought that season, but he dominated his competition when he was healthy. Hultzen started six games with the Tacoma Rainiers in 2013, going 4-1, and posting a ridiculous 2.05 ERA. He struck out 10.0 hitters per 9 innings, and allowed just 2.1 walks. His 4.86 strikeout to walk ratio was tops on the team among starting pitchers. The Pacific Coast League is notoriously hitter friendly, and to limit the opposition to 0.848 walks/hits per innings is remarkable.

I still believe the Mariners view Danny Hultzen as a starting pitcher, and would prefer not to utilize him out of the bullpen in 2015. However, he may have the best arm amongst his competitors, and he could always transition back to being a starter at a later date. Hultzen is likely ticketed to begin the season in the Rainiers’ starting rotation. I love Hultzen’s potential, and if he can stay healthy, I expect to see him in Seattle sometime this season.

Next: Who's Falling Behind?

Sep 1, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Lucas Luetge (44) pitches against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Falling Behind: Joe Saunders & Lucas Luetge

Joe Saunders and Lucas Luetge were considered by most pundits to be the favorites to win this job entering spring training, but both pitchers have struggled mightily thus far.

Feb 26, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Joe Saunders poses for a portrait during photo day at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Saunders has been lit up this spring. The 33-year-old has allowed seven runs on seven hits across just two innings of work. He has been hit hard, and Saunders has surrendered two home runs already in spring training. Perhaps the most concerning part his performance is that he has been awful against essentially minor league competition. Saunders has looked bad late in games against prospects and backups. He will have to turn things around quickly if he hopes to be heading north to Seattle for opening day.

Luetge has bounced back and forth between Seattle and Tacoma in each of the past three seasons. He has not pitched very well this spring, as he has allowed three earned runs on five hits across three innings of work. He has also been burnt by the long, allowing one home run this spring. Obviously, Luetge is ahead of Saunders at this point, but he is in serious danger of not making the Mariners’ bullpen. Luetge is out of minor league options, so he will have to pass through waivers if he is unable to crack the M’s opening day roster.

It is not too late for both of these players to recover in this competition, but it will not be easy to overtake Tyler Olson and David Rollins. Joe Saunders in particular looks washed up; he has no life on his fastball and seems lost on the mound. Luetge has had success with the M’s in the past, and he could do it again in the future. However, I still believe Olson or Rollins will win this battle.

Next: Seattle Mariners Narrowing Candidates for Final Rotation Spot

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Seattle Mariners’ Spring Battles: Second Southpaw Reliever

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