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Top 10 Mariners Players Right Now: #7 Marco Gonzales

By Curtis Christianson

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 20: Marco Gonzales #7 of the Seattle Mariners pitches the ball during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on June 20, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 in extra innings. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 20: Marco Gonzales #7 of the Seattle Mariners pitches the ball during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on June 20, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 in extra innings. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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So far in the Top 10 Mariners players right now, we have seen a top reliever, a center fielder, and a starting pitcher ranked behind the number 7 player. That player coming in at number 7 wears number 7 on the mound and is a bulldog on the mound as well. That’s right, the number 7 Mariners player right now is Marco Gonzales.

Top 10 Mariners Players Right Now: #7 Marco Gonzales

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 21: Marco Gonzales #7 of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on September 21, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 21: Marco Gonzales #7 of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the first inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on September 21, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Marco Gonzales has been one of the stalwarts of the Mariners roster, and most certainly of the rotation the last several seasons. He has been with the Mariners since the middle of the 2017 season when he was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals. He has been the club’s ace since then, and he has very good stretches but is overall the definition of consistency. He has never been a pitcher that overpowers hitters, but he uses his excellent command to get outs.

Gonzales had an excellent three-year run from 2018-2020. He was a 3.5 and 3.6 WAR pitcher in the full seasons of ’18 and ’19, being one of the best performers in the American League. Then in 2020, he was truly special, having a 2.0 WAR season in just under 70 innings. He took the ball every day for those three years, was able to command his pitches to a tee, and was one of the most underrated pitchers in the American League.

Last season, Gonzales got off to a rough start when he struggled to command his pitches as well as he had before. He then missed all of May with a left forearm strain, which could have been ailing him early in the year. He then returned and started to look better and better down the stretch. He had a really good August, having a sub 2 ERA, which he followed up with a strong final month of the season.

Looking to this upcoming season, Gonzales will have a significant amount of pressure lifted off his shoulders with the addition of Robbie Ray. Ray will be the headliner in the rotation, and it is possible for the M’s to still sign someone like Carlos Rodon or trade for someone else to steal headlines in the rotation. Logan Gilbert will also be better in 2022, and he could take more attention from fans.

Top 10 Mariners Players Right Now: #8 Logan Gilbert. dark. Next

This will allow Marco Gonzales to just focus on being solid every day, and he won’t have to feel the pressure of being the ace of the staff. I believe that Marco will come out and have a very strong year and be a very big part of hopefully a Mariners playoff run. He has been called “very boring”, but that is false and anyone who says Marco Gonzales is boring is dead wrong. He is a leader on this team, and he is a fan favorite for a reason.

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