Forgotten Mariners outfielder is suddenly on a power surge in the minors

The Seattle Mariners are no strangers to watching left-handed hitters mash in the minors, only to fizzle when the lights are brightest. Dominic Canzone is starting to fit that description as another Quad-A player a little too well.

Once a promising acquisition from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Canzone has spent the better part of the last two seasons trapped in baseball purgatory — too talented to ignore in Triple-A, too inconsistent to stick in the big leagues.

Canzone’s latest cup of coffee in Seattle came and went in the blink of an eye. He appeared in just two games in 2025, striking out twice in three at-bats before hopping the shuttle back to Tacoma. It’s a storyline Mariners fans have seen before. But in typical Canzone fashion, the moment he returned to Triple-A, he caught fire again.

Over his last 10 games, the 27-year-old has slugged five home runs and three doubles, and driven in nine runs earning him Pacific Coast League Player of the Week honors. On the season, he’s slashing a scorching .308/.357/.692 with seven homers and 11 RBIs through 18 games. And yet, no one’s listening.

Dominic Canzone Is too good for Tacoma — but Is he good enough for Seattle?

When Luke Raley hit the injured list with a right oblique strain, the Mariners passed on bringing Canzone back. Instead, they plucked Leody Taveras off of waivers, who wasted no time making a strong first impression with a clutch, game-winning RBI in his Mariners debut. Taveras already looks better suited for Seattle’s immediate needs.

So where does that leave Canzone? He remains under team control for five more seasons, and while he may not be a headline-making name, his power potential and left-handed bat still hold value — if he can maintain consistency.

One way to increase that value might be by reintroducing him to first base, a position he experimented with in Arizona’s farm system. Back in 2022, Canzone logged over 300 innings at first base, showing serviceable ability there. But since joining Seattle, he hasn’t taken a single inning at the position, serving primarily as a corner outfielder and designated hitter.

With the Mariners still lacking a long-term solution at first base, dusting off Canzone’s first baseman’s mitt could be worth revisiting. At worst, it expands his utility for a future trade. At best, it provides Seattle with an internal option without having to dip into the trade or free agent market.

One thing is certain, Canzone’s bat is loud and can’t be ignored forever. Whether his future is in Seattle or as a trade chip elsewhere, it feels like a decision that’s long overdue.