Shawn O’Malley Is Having A Great Spring Training (Again). Can It Continue Through The Year This Time?

Mariners utilityman, Shawn O’Malley, is off to a great spring start. Before yesterday’s game, he was hitting above .400. We saw this type of offensive ability from O’Malley last season, but it ultimately amounted to an unspectacular 2016. So, will his hot start in the spring of 2017 flow into the regular season come April?

During the 2016 Cactus League action, the Mariners, Shawn O’Malley, raised several eyebrows with his inspiring effort. The utilityman went 16-34 (.471) at the plate, scored 16 runs, had five extra-base hits that included three doubles, a triple, and a home run, drew 6 walks, stole five bases and only struck out four times.

It was the level of play that the coaching staff wanted to see from O’Malley who had been working his way through the minors with the Tampa Rays, Los Angeles Angels, and now the Mariners since being drafted in 2006.

His spring performance earned him a spot on the 40-man roster in mid-May when he was called up from Triple-A Tacoma.

"“Obviously, Shawn’s been here before. He had a great spring training,” Servais said back in May of 2016. “The versatility that he brings, we’re a little bit more comfortable with him in the outfield at this time.”"

From that quote on, the jinx had been placed on O’Malley for the remainder of the season.

The Washington native did have a few impressive outings through the 2016 season, but he batted .229 with nine doubles, two triples, two home runs, drew 18 walks, stole six bases and struck out 59 times in 89 games.

The talent level he faced was assuredly more challenging than in spring training, but the dramatic dropoff was a let down offensively. At least he was good with his glove boasting a .989 fielding percentage between five sports in the infield and outfield.

This season O’Malley is expected to be in the same role, behind prominent defensive studs like Leonys Martin, Jean Segura, and Jarrod Dyson, as well as fitting in wherever else he is needed.

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About two months ago I had written a piece about not wanting to see too much O’Malley in the lineup because the starters should be playing with limited rest, and with the big names I just mentioned as well as the usual core of Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, and Nelson Cruz, O’Malley should be an after thought.

However, if he can provide similar numbers that he is showing off this spring as well as showcasing his glove skills, O’Malley could be a significant help as a backup or as a replacement if one of the starters goes down [knock on wood].

In five appearances this spring, O’Malley has batted 5-14 (.357), three RBIs, drawn a walk, stolen a base, and struck out twice. He does not have any extra-base hits at the moment, but with 30 games remaining this spring, don’t count O’Malley out yet.

Next: Mariners Thyago Vieira Update

We’ve been down this road before, though. Mariners fans should hope that O’Malley can make 2017 his breakout year in the majors instead of making it an unfortunate case of deja vu.