Mariners Spring Training: The 5 coldest bats

We recently took a look at the 5 hottest bats in Spring Training, so we have to look at the 5 coldest bats now. Unfortunately for Mariners fans, there are too many big names on this list. But at the same time, we are only a week and a half into Spring Training.

Mariners Hitter #1 (no specific order): Evan White

We are all hoping for a breakout season from the rookie Gold Glove winner, but the first week of Spring Training isn’t so reassuring. In seven games, Evan White is hitting .071. He also owns a .176 OBP, a .143 slugging percentage, and a .319 OPS. On the bright side, Evan has only struck out four times and walked twice.

These numbers are looking a lot like his 2020 numbers: .176 BA, .252 OBP, .346 slugging, and .599 OPS. But again, looking at the baseline numbers doesn’t do Evan White justice. The former first-round pick hit the ball extremely hard and his barrel percentage was in the 90th percentile.

But, you start to wonder whether the advanced metrics mean anything if the baseline statistics don’t improve as well. Hopefully, 2021 will give Mariners fans and the coaching staff a better sense of who Evan White can be on offense.

Are we being harsh on Evan White? Yes, probably. The Mariners have had a history of draft busts so we are always judging prospects strictly. The positive thing is that Evan White is still only 24-years-old, and will turn 25 in late April. So, it’s not a make-or-break situation for the Mariners first baseman.

But, it would make us feel a whole lot better if he turns it around this month and ride that confidence into the regular season. White did make the jump from Double-A to the MLB so I hope 2020 was just a learning year for him.

Evan White has a double in Spring Training thus far, and I am hoping for two home runs by the end of the month. More importantly, I want Evan White to get comfortable and gain confidence more than anything.