Seattle Mariners outfielder Jake Fraley picked up where he left off

Jake Fraley of the Seattle Mariners slides into second base. — May 31, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Oakland Athletics shortstop Chad Pinder turns a double play after forcing out Seattle Mariners rightfielder Jake Fraley. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Fraley has been on the injured list for nearly two months after suffering a hamstring strain in the second series of the regular season. Yesterday, Fraley played in his first Seattle Mariners game since April 6th and he looked great.

In notable Jake Fraley fashion, he started the game off with a walk. He smiled over at the dugout while jogging to first base.

Jake Fraley finished two for three with two walks

The Seattle Mariners outfielder became known as the automatic walk during the start of the 2021 season. In his first five games, he walked eight times. One of them was a walk-off walk on Opening Day against the San Francisco Giants.

And of course, he walks in his first at-bat since being reinstated from the IL. The 26-year-old outfielder fell behind in the count early but was able to force a 3-2 walk.

Jake Fraley (@jfral_23) has reached base safely in 13 of his first 23 plate appearances (.565 OBP) to begin the season.
— Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) May 31, 2021

During his second at-bat in the bottom of the fourth, Jake Fraley hit a jam shot single which got the big fourth inning rally going. After a J.P. Crawford single, Fraley stepped in and swung at an 0-1 fastball in on the hands. He was able to barely spoon it over the head of Jed Lowrie, the second baseman, which put runners on first and second without an out.

In the bottom of the fifth, Jake Fraley hit a sharp line drive to Matt Olson which was the first time he didn’t reach base yesterday. And then in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jake Fraley tried to get a two-out rally going with a double.

Finally, in the bottom of the tenth, Fraley was intentionally walked to load the bases. Jake Fraley reached base four times out of his five plate appearances, which sounds very Jake Fraley-like.

The LSU product also made a nice play towards the end of the game down the right-field corner. The Seattle Mariners have certainly missed Jake Fraley on the injured list, and have been forced to put Donovan Walton in the outfield a few times. Fraley’s return couldn’t have come at a better time since Kyle Lewis was pulled from the game yesterday and we are hoping it’s nothing too severe.

Fraley should be a regular in the lineup especially if Kyle Lewis needs to spend a stint on the injured list.

Jake Fraley finished two for three with two walks

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