4 surprisingly hot Mariners players who are beginning to win fans over

Through the first few weeks of the 2025 season, the Seattle Mariners have had their fair share of ups and downs. But amid the noise, injury issues, and overall doubt surrounding the team, several individual performances have begun to stand out in a big way. 

Whether it’s players silencing early-season doubt or bullpen arms reinventing themselves, the Mariners are starting to shape a new identity built around their scrappy nature, resilience and timely production.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the names that are turning heads in Seattle and becoming key pieces to the team’s early success.

4 surprisingly hot Mariners players who are beginning to wins fans over

Rowdy Tellez

There weren’t many Rowdy Tellez defenders heading into the Mariners’ series against the Toronto Blue Jays. And honestly, it was hard to blame anyone — the veteran slugger was hitting below .100, with just three hits on the season. Aside from a lone home run, his bat had been largely silent, and critics were quick to question Seattle’s decision to give him a regular run at first base.

But baseball often has a funny way of flipping the script. Returning to Toronto — the organization that originally drafted him — Tellez didn’t just find a spark. He found an all-out power surge as he homered in all three games against the Blue Jays, raising his batting average from a dismal .087 to a more respectable .156 in the span of a weekend. He now sits with four home runs and 11 RBIs on the year and, more importantly, played a key role in both of the Mariners’ victories in the series.

It was the kind of series that quiets the doubters, at least for now. After a sluggish start to the season that followed an impressive spring training, Tellez is beginning to look more comfortable with each at-bat. He’s seeing pitches better, driving the ball with authority, and providing the offensive jolt Seattle was hoping for when they chose him to break camp with the club.

Whether this is the start of a season turnaround or simply a timely outburst remains to be seen. But for a weekend in Toronto, Rowdy Tellez reminded everyone why he was worth betting on.

Dylan Moore

At the start of the regular season, Dylan Moore looked like the odd man out. After managing just six hits during spring training, he lost his grip on the starting second base job to Ryan Bliss, whose stronger showing in camp had many pegging him as the Mariners' breakout second baseman.

But fast forward a few weeks and a couple of injuries later  — Moore is right back in the spotlight. With both Bliss and Victor Robles sidelined, Moore has stepped into a super-utility role, and he’s running with it.

He’s been especially lethal against left-handed pitching, and overall he's slashing an impressive .316/.371/.596 with five home runs. His most recent performance this past week has earned him American League Player of the Week honors.

The dismay that once followed Moore’s name on a lineup card has flipped. Now, there’s genuine excitement when he’s penciled in. Whether he’s filling in a spot in the infield or patrolling the outfield, he’s bringing right-handed thump to the order. Moore has done nothing but make the most of his opportunity — and in doing so, he’s quickly becoming one of Seattle’s most valuable early-season contributors.

Jorge Polanco

What Jorge Polanco is doing right now is no longer some flash-in-the-pan hot streak — it’s been steady, consistent production since Opening Day. And that might be the most encouraging sign for the Mariners.

Over his first 15 games, Polanco has tallied 18 hits, driven in 12 runs, and launched three homers while striking out just seven times. He’s slashing an impressive .346/.352/.558 and doing so with a calm, confident presence at the plate that’s quickly become a staple of Seattle’s offense.

Polanco has recently been moved up in the order, now often batting between Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh, where he provides both protection and production. That trio has become the heart of the Mariners’ offense — and Polanco’s reliability is making the lineup far more dangerous than it looked early on.

What’s most impressive is that he’s still not 100 percent physically. Even while managing through lingering soreness, he’s been one of the Mariners’ most consistent bats. And the way he’s swinging it right now, it doesn’t feel like a temporary run — it feels like the version of Jorge Polanco that Seattle thought it was getting when it traded for him ahead of the 2024 season.

When his name’s in the lineup, there’s a growing belief that the Mariners have a real shot to win .

Gabe Speier 

Speier has always had the raw stuff to be effective, but consistency has been the missing ingredient. After a strong showing in 2022, his performance dipped in 2023 and then cratered in 2024, when he posted a 5.70 ERA across 29 appearances. The strikeout numbers were still there, but his command completely unraveled, walking a career-worst 5.3 batters per nine innings.

Fast forward to 2025, and we’re finally seeing the version of Gabe Speier that Mariners fans had hoped for.

Through his first 10 appearances, Speier has pitched nine shutout innings, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out 11. He currently holds a perfect 0.00 ERA and is starting to look like a legitimate weapon in Seattle’s bullpen.

Manager Dan Wilson has played to Speier’s strengths, deploying him primarily in matchups against left-handed hitters. But even when facing righties, he hasn’t flinched. The command is sharper, the confidence is back, and most importantly, the results are there.

No longer a fringe option on the depth chart, Speier has quickly climbed into the circle of trust — and right now, he might be one of the most reliable arms in relief the Mariners have at their disposal.

While it’s still early in the MLB season, the recent surge from these players are an encouraging sign for a Mariners team looking to stay competitive in a tight AL West. They’ve become tangible pieces that could determine how far this team goes. If this stretch is any indication, Seattle might have more internal firepower than people gave them credit for. And if these performances hold, the Mariners could be a much tougher team to deal with as the season unfolds.