Mariners connections to the 2020 World Series rosters

Mike Zunino

Zunino was the third overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft by the Mariners. He came up through the Mariners system as one of the highest-rated prospects in all of the MLB but never turned into that franchise catcher that the Mariners thought they had drafted. He finished his Mariners career with 95 HR over 587 games as well as a .207 batting average, .682 OPS, and a 7.1 WAR.

The Mariners traded Zunino to the Rays in 2019 and since his debut in Tampa Bay, he has continued his disappointing performance. Zunino has a .556 OPS over his two years with the Rays but he has had an excellent 2020 playoffs, with a .771 OPS and 4 home runs in 13 games.

Blake Snell

Snell grew up a Mariners fan in the Seattle suburb of Shoreline, WA, and was committed to the University of Washington. However, he chose to go pro as he was drafted in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Rays.

Ryan Yarbrough

Yarbrough was drafted by the Mariners in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft but never appeared in the majors for Seattle. He was a part of one of the multiple Mallex Smith Trades that the Mariners made, sending the two of them and another minor leaguer to the Rays for Drew Smyly.

Ji Man Choi

Choi was signed by the Mariners in 2010 and was a part of their minor league system for five years before he was DFA’d. He has traveled all over the MLB and has finally found a spot as the everyday first baseman for the Rays and has become one of the more likable players in baseball in the process.

Yandy Diaz

Diaz’s connection to the Mariners comes from his participation in a three-team trade that sent 2 All-stars on the move. He was traded from Cleveland to Tampa Bay in the trade that also sent Edwin Encarnacion to Seattle and Carlos Santana from Seattle (where he never appeared in a game) to Cleveland.