Mariners Position Battle Update: Backup CF/ 5th Outfielder

Boog Powell, Shawn O’Malley and Dan Robertson are all competing in Arizona to be the M’s backup center fielder in 2016.

Since the days of healthy Franklin Gutierrez, the Mariners have struggled to maintain a discernible presence in center field. Leonys Martin is more than likely going to be the everyday center fielder once the 2016 season opens, but there are still a number of guys vying for the job to back Martin up in center field.

Boog Powell, Daniel Robertson and Shawn O’Malley have been thrown in the mix as possible options to fill the backup center field/outfield role. All have had their share of playing time this spring, but only one will be on the roster opening day.

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Boog Powell came over this off season in the trade that sent Logan Morrison, Danny Farquhar, and Brad Miller to Tampa Bay. Shawn O’Malley, the more familiar of the candidates, has noted talent in the infield and outfield. Daniel Robertson seems to be a bit of an outlier here, but he is a Dipoto approved, typical OBP and defensive guy that should provide depth. 

That being said, the winner of the fifth-outfielder position will probably be the guy that can best execute Dipoto’s vision of baseball in Seattle. We’ll start with Boog Powell, the youngest outfield hopeful.

Next: Boog Powell wants to build with the Mariners