3 most surprising first impressions at Mariners spring training 2025

1B Rowdy Tellez

Rowdy has been a major-league mainstay since his debut with the Blue Jays in 2018. Unfortunately, however, his statistical profile has never really taken the necessary step forward for him to become a franchise mainstay anywhere.

After a decent 2022 with the Brewers, he has rated below replacement-level for the past two seasons. Last year, he was controversially designated for assignment and released by the Pirates just shy of a key performance bonus. He's now on a minor league with the Mariners.

Outside of serving as a callback to a former Seattle fan favorite, this move was barely notable. Now that fans have gotten a chance to see a little more of him in a Seattle uniform, he might actually get some big-league playing time.

He has had just four spring training at-bats, but his booming homer on Wednesday proves that his power is clearly still there. Donovan Solano and Luke Raley are currently slated to split starting time at first base, but maybe Tellez finds a way to throw his hat in the ring. More data is necessary before it can be determined whether he'll be the below-average hitter of the past two years or the respectable bat he was in 2022.