Mariners Spring Training: Abraham Toro is Tearing it Up

Through the first five games of Spring Training, Mariners utility man Abraham Toro has taken center stage as the team’s top offensive producer so far. Toro has five hits (all singles) in nine at-bats, a walk, an RBI, and three runs scored, resulting in a stellar 1.192 OPS.

Many Mariners fans have been concerned about what to expect from Toro in 2022, largely due to his decline in September of last season, and with new acquisitions Adam Frazier and Eugenio Suárez potentially threatening his playing time. However, Toro’s torrid start to the spring gives reason for hope for a solid upcoming campaign.

So far this spring, Abraham Toro has started at DH, third base, and second base, which is likely a good glimpse at the variations of positioning we’ll see from him this summer. Toro has also been getting work in the outfield this offseason, so it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see him snagging fly balls out there within the next week; if his bat stays hot, the Mariners will be looking for any way to keep him in the lineup this season.

Today’s Spring Training game between the Mariners and Cleveland Guardians will (excitingly) feature a possible Opening Day starting lineup, with Toro hitting 7th in the DH spot, squeezed between J.P. Crawford in the 6-hole and Jarred Kelenic (who is 0-7 this spring) batting 8th.

After last year’s trade deadline swap of Abraham Toro for beloved Mariners closer Kendall Graveman, Toro will always have an inevitable chip on his shoulder to prove to Mariners fans that he was worth the investment. If he carries his hot Spring Training start into the regular season, the doubt that overshadows him could be vanquished sooner than later.