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The Drought, Part II: The 10 Most Underrated Mariners Since 2001 – First Five

By Ty Gonzalez

SEATTLE - MARCH 31: Fans walk up to the stadium before the Seattle Mariners game against the Texas Rangers on March 31, 2008 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE - MARCH 31: Fans walk up to the stadium before the Seattle Mariners game against the Texas Rangers on March 31, 2008 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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#6: RHP Tom Wilhelmsen

SEATTLE, WA – JULY 14: Closing pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen #54 of the Seattle Mariners pumps his fist after inducing Erick Aybar of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to line out for the final out at Safeco Field on July 14, 2013 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners defeated the Angels 4-3. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – JULY 14: Closing pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen #54 of the Seattle Mariners pumps his fist after inducing Erick Aybar of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to line out for the final out at Safeco Field on July 14, 2013 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners defeated the Angels 4-3. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

From 2005 to 2009, Tom Wilhelmsen was a bartender in Tucson, Arizona. Suddenly, he was a Seattle Mariner. If we’re being honest, Wilhelmsen may very well have the best story of any Mariners player ever.

Being good helps that, and that’s exactly what Wilhelmsen was in Seattle. He wasn’t just a guy that came in, got his cup of coffee, and got out. Wilhelmsen quickly became the soul of the Mariners’ bullpen for the early 2010s.

When Brandon League fell apart in 2012, Wilhelmsen picked up the pieces and took over the closer’s role with flying colors. In 34 opportunities, Wilhelmsen successfully saved 29 games. Considering he was mixing cocktails only two years prior, that was pretty impressive.

With his newfound role, Wilhelmsen earned himself the nickname of “The Bartender,” penned by Mariners broadcaster Dave Sims. When Wilhelmsen entered the game in the 9th inning, it was “closing time.”

Unfortunately, being a closer was short-lived for Wilhelmsen, who lost the job in 2013 and wound up sent down to Triple-A Tacoma. He made his way back to the MLB level later that year and stayed for good.

In 2014, Wilhelmsen was a key part of the dominant Mariners’ bullpen that finished tops in the MLB across the board. The bond that he and his ‘pen-pals created that year was something special to behold.

I wish we could have seen that squad pitch in the playoffs.

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