Seattle Mariners: 3 darkhorse candidates to contribute in 2020

LHP Anthony Misiewicz

No one understands the uncertainty of playing in a Jerry Dipoto led organization better than Anthony Misiewicz. Selected by the Mariners in the 18th round of Jack Zduriencik’s last draft as the team’s general manager, Misiewicz was shipped off to Tampa Bay in a 2017 midseason swap that netted Seattle Ryan Garton and Mike Marjama. Just months later, Misiewicz was reacquired by the Mariners for international bonus pool money.

Misiewicz has been average at best for most of his professional career, but really came on for Double-A Arkansas last year in limited time. In 35.2 innings pitched, he posted a 2.02 FIP with a 9.08 K/9 and 1.77 BB/9. He then went on to throw another 95.2 innings in Triple-A where he was obliterated, but so was practically every other pitcher at that level, so we’ll throw that away.

The 25-year-old southpaw pushes 90 with his fastball and showed some growth with his two breaking pitches. If he can continue to build upon the positives of his 2019 campaign, there may be something there to land him an opportunity at the back end of the Mariners’ rotation in the event of the inevitable injury or two, though he’ll also be at the back of a long line of reserves that starts with Nick Margevicius, Justin Dunn, Wei-Yin Chen, and Logan Gilbert.