Luke Raley confirms what every Mariners fan was thinking in 2025

Luke Raley's first year in Seattle probably went better than expected, as he played in a career-high 137 games for the Mariners. He ended up setting a whole host of single-season bests, including a 3.2 bWAR, 22 homers, 58 RBI, 128 OPS+ and 187 total bases.

Last season however, couldn't have gone much worse for Raley as he endured a campaign which was painful for Mariners fans to watch. It was even more painful for him — quite literally — as he first dealt with a right oblique strain and then back spasms, which led to two stints on the injured list.

The result was that the 31-year-old played just 73 games during the 2025 campaign, and it was clear the injuries severely compromised his productivity. He put up some poor numbers along the way, including a -0.3 bWAR, a .202/.319/.311 slash line, .631 OPS and 85 OPS+.

Luke Raley discusses his injury issues in 2025

Raley recently opened up about his struggles last year with injury, particularly the oblique strain which effectively cost him two months of the 2025 season. As per Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports, he said:

"I’m not going to be one that just like lays it down and quits. But yeah, it was challenging. When I came back from the oblique, it just never felt right. Didn’t feel like myself. And especially when you’re hitting, like a millisecond makes a huge difference. So it’s like, was my bat speed a little slower? Like, what was going on? Could I not make the move I wanted to make?"

Luke Raley

It's an interesting read in general by Drayer, offering an insight into Raley's doubts as he worked his way back from the oblique strain. He talked about the differences to previously dealing with hamstring and quad issues, about how an oblique messes with your swing, your running, your throwing, i.e. everything.

Now we should point out that the Hinckley, Ohio native was off to a poor start last season even before his oblique strain, with just a .206 batting average and .662 OPS. At the same time though it was just 24 games into the campaign and it's not as if he couldn't have improved — this is a guy who produced a .895 OPS for the Mariners during the second half of the 2024 season in his first year.

Instead, Raley had to contend with the oblique strain as well as back spasms in late July, which isn't exactly a laughing matter either. The combined impact of these issues was evident and, as per his Baseball Savant page, resulted in him losing 1.2 mph off his average bat speed relative to 2024.

You never want to call a season a lost cause, especially with the 2016 seventh-round draft pick saying he isn't one to quit. (Quite rightly and admirably.) However, after he returned from his back spasms he batted just .143 with a .425 OPS the rest of the way and come playoff time, the Mariners ultimately decided to hold him off the ALCS roster.

Mariners encouraged by strong start to spring training

Now, it's a new season and there's no reason why Raley can't return to the player who impressed so much in his first season with the Mariners, as well as his previous year in Tampa Bay with the Rays. He's still capable of being a righty masher, with a career .786 OPs and 126 wRC+.

At least the Mariners are presenting the left-handed bat with the best possible situation to succeed, by putting him in the leadoff spot for two of their first three games of Cactus League action. And while it's still early, three hits from four at-bats is definitely an encouraging start.

You can count Mariners manager Dan Wilson among those encouraged by how Raley has started spring training and hopeful he will get back to where he was previously. As per Drayer, Wilson said: "I'm excited to see just all that confidence come back for him. We talked about completing the lineup. He can be a big part of that. And it's exciting to see that start from him."

The top priority is understandably for Raley to stay healthy this year, and with the main aim of having him be part of a platoon in right field. However, he has the potential to be a game-changer for the offense and with his versatility allowing him to also play at first base, the other two outfield spots and DH, there will be different opportunities to move him around the lineup.